After nearly 15 years of delayed national elections and longstanding political divisions among factions in the West Bank and Gaza, citizens will have the opportunity to cast their votes in the anticipated legislative council and presidential elections, respectively scheduled for May 22 and July 31, 2021. The elections present an opportunity to restore democratic governance and reinvigorate civic engagement in the Palestinian Territories, according to analysis released today by the National Democratic Institute (NDI). However, against the backdrop of the COVID-19 pandemic and accelerated elections timeline, the analysis finds that the electoral process will be faced with a number of significant hurdles to meet the necessary conditions for openly competitive elections. 

The pre-election statement provides an analysis of the electoral and political environment based on in-depth interviews conducted virtually from March 2 to 17, 2021, by an NDI team of electoral and technical experts, including: Leslie Campbell, NDI Middle East and North Africa regional director; Sarah Cooper, NDI Algeria country director and former NDI Global Elections program director; Arianit Shehu, NDI Jordan country director; and Toni Verstandig, NDI board member and former deputy assistant secretary at the U.S. Department of State Bureau for Near Eastern Affairs as well as former director of Middle East Programs at the Aspen Institute.

NDI’s report addresses issues related to the electoral framework and administration, the campaign environment, gender and inclusion, the security environment, the information environment and the impact of the covid-19 pandemic. The team met virtually with a wide range of stakeholders including party representatives, candidates, government and election officials, civil society representatives and members of the international community. The report also benefited from its expertise and relationships developed over 27 years of programming in the West Bank and Gaza and comparative international experience conducting election observation missions around the globe. 

Based on NDI’s analysis, the report makes a number of recommendations to improve the West Bank and Gaza’s electoral process, including among others: 

• Credible independent oversight of the electoral process is crucial to engender public confidence - the international community should provide robust financial and technical support to citizen observers and ensure international attention and solidarity for the electoral process is expressed.

• Young voters can play a critical role in the upcoming election process if they are able to exercise an informed choice between clear policy platforms - political parties and candidates should formulate clear platforms and policies to address current youth grievances and build citizens’ trust and confidence in upcoming electoral processes and future elected institutions. The President and PA should reach accommodation with civil society on grievances related to the 2021 Charitable Associations Amendment and ensure that civil society is empowered to monitor the upcoming electoral process. 

• The CEC, PA, political parties and civil society, with the assistance of international donors, should sponsor comprehensive voter education and awareness campaigns to ensure voter participation and trust in the electoral process.

NDI has maintained a presence in the Palestinian Territories since 1994, working with Palestinian political parties, civil society organizations and activists on a variety of issues to promote citizen participation, accountability and responsiveness in governance and political life. During that time, the Institute has implemented election-related programming for every Palestinian electoral event since 1994, including domestic, regional and international election observation missions, support to the Central Elections Commission, candidate training and political party development. 

The analysis was  conducted on a strictly nonpartisan basis and without interfering in the election process. The Institute recognizes that, ultimately, it will be the Palestinian people who will determine the credibility of their elections and the country’s democratic transition. The delegation, therefore, offers this pre-election statement in the spirit of supporting and strengthening democratic institutions, effective election practices, and accountability in the Palestinian Territories. NDI’s international virtual election analysis was conducted in accordance with Palestinian law and the Declaration of Principles for International Election Observation, with support from the National Endowment for Democracy (NED).