Abbas Pledges Palestinian Elections Amid Intensifying Reform Pressure

Ramallah— Mahmoud Abbas on Thursday pledged to move forward with reforms within the Palestinian Authority and said he was prepared to hold long-delayed presidential and parliamentary elections, as international pressure mounts over governance and legitimacy concerns.

Speaking during an address to his party congress in Ramallah, Abbas reaffirmed commitments to institutional reform but stopped short of announcing a timetable for any vote.“We renew our full commitment to continuing work on implementing all the reform measures we pledged,” Abbas said.

“We are ready to hold presidential and legislative elections.”The remarks come amid increasing pressure from the United States, the European Union and several Arab governments for the Palestinian leadership to modernize institutions, address corruption allegations and restore political credibility.

The Palestinian Authority, which exercises limited self-rule in parts of the occupied West Bank, has faced growing criticism from Palestinians over accusations of political stagnation, weak governance and declining public trust.

No presidential election has been held since 2005, when Abbas was elected following the death of Yasser Arafat. Parliamentary elections have repeatedly been postponed amid deep divisions between Abbas’ Fatah movement and rival faction Hamas.

International calls for reform have intensified alongside wider diplomatic discussions over the future governance of Palestinian territories amid continuing regional instability and the conflict in Gaza Strip.