RAMALLAH, 11 October, 2026 (Kamran Raja): Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas has postponed legislative elections until September 11, 2027, with presidential and parliamentary polls now scheduled to take place on the same day, according to official media. The elections were originally planned for November 28 this year, while the presidential vote had been expected in early 2027. In a presidential decree reported by the Palestinian Wafa news agency, Abbas attributed the delay to Israeli-imposed obstacles and the need to establish appropriate political and security conditions to ensure free, fair and inclusive elections. The Palestinian Authority has also alleged that Israel refused to allow Palestinian election officials access to East Jerusalem and Gaza to prepare for the polls. Israel’s Foreign Minister Gideon Saar accused Abbas of misleading the international community over the planned postponement. The elections are part of reforms advocated by the international community, including the European Union. The last Palestinian legislative elections were held in 2006, when Hamas defeated Fatah, the dominant faction within the Palestinian Authority. The subsequent political split led to Hamas taking control of the Gaza Strip, while Fatah continued to dominate the West Bank, deepening the territorial and political divide. The Palestinian Legislative Council has not convened since 2007. Abbas won the last presidential election in 2005, and his term was due to expire in 2009, but he has continued to govern through presidential decrees. The postponement has renewed debate over the prospects for democratic elections and political reconciliation in the Palestinian territories.