Four Western countries criticize the postponement of the Palestinian elections and call on the president to retract the decision

Ramallah - Ofoq News - The Foreign Ministers of Australia, Canada, France and the United Kingdom expressed their deep regret over the decision of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas to postpone the legislative and presidential elections to September 2027, calling on the Palestinian Authority to reconsider the decision and hold the elections without further delay.

The ministers said, in a joint statement, that the Palestinians have been waiting for years for the opportunity to elect their representatives, noting that nearly two decades have passed since the last elections for the Palestinian Legislative Council, and five years since the elections that were scheduled to be held in 2021 were postponed.

The statement warned that the new postponement would disappoint the Palestinians and once again deprive them of their right to vote, which could lead to a further decline in citizens’ confidence in Palestinian democratic institutions.

The ministers stressed that holding credible elections is an essential part of political reform, renewing institutions and strengthening responsible governance, noting that this step is consistent with the New York Declaration issued in June 2025.

The statement stressed that strengthening Palestinian governance represents an important element in building the institutions necessary to achieve the two-state solution, considering it the way to achieve lasting peace and security for Palestinians and Israelis.

The Ministers also called on Israel to refrain from taking any measures that would obstruct the elections, including the necessary practical arrangements to ensure Palestinian participation in the electoral process.

At the conclusion of the statement, the four countries renewed their support for the right of the Palestinian people to self-determination, and affirmed that they would continue to support efforts aimed at holding elections, stressing at the same time their position rejecting any role for the Hamas movement in the future governance of Palestine.