RAMALLAH, September 27, 2026 (WAFA) – The Central Elections Commission (CEC) expressed its appreciation for the recent United Nations (UN) report on the Palestinian legislative elections, which commended the CEC’s competence and professional independence and called for facilitating its work to ensure the free participation of voters in the upcoming elections.
The CEC emphasized its continued efforts to conduct the electoral process in accordance with the legislative elections timeline, with voting scheduled for November 28, and to complete all stages of the process in accordance with the law and in a professional and transparent manner.
The Office of the United Nations Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process (UNSCO) issued the report, which was submitted to the Ad Hoc Liaison Committee (AHLC) in New York. Chaired by Norway and comprising the United Nations, the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund (IMF), and other international bodies, the AHLC is a key international framework for coordinating international assistance to the Palestinians.
The report included a section on elections and the CEC. It welcomed the Presidential Decree setting the date for the legislative elections and noted the ongoing preparations, which are being supported by the United Nations and members of the AHLC.
The report emphasized the importance of holding transparent and inclusive elections throughout the West Bank, including East Jerusalem in accordance with previous agreements, and in the Gaza Strip, noting their importance for renewing Palestinian institutions, particularly as more than half of eligible voters have never participated in national elections.
The report also called on all relevant authorities to facilitate the CEC’s work and ensure the free participation of all eligible voters.
The report specifically commended the CEC, describing it as “among the most capable electoral management bodies in the region.” It also recognized that the CEC has maintained its professional independence and technical standards through two decades without national elections, while continuing to administer local elections and maintain the voter register despite extremely difficult political and financial circumstances.
The report identified the CEC as one of the Palestinian institutions that has succeeded in maintaining its capacity and called for continued political and financial support for the Commission beyond November 2026 to preserve its staff, systems, and capacity to organize future elections.
The report identified the preservation of Palestinian institutions as one of five key priorities for international support, while emphasizing the importance of multi-year support for the CEC and Palestinian civil society.
T.R.
