Elections | The American Task Force on Palestine

Whither the Palestinians
Media Mention of Hussein Ibish In Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars - July 7, 2014 - 12:00am

Events

Poll: Large Majority of Palestinians Want Immediate Elections
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Palestine News Network
February 21, 2013 - 1:00am

A large majority of Palestinians in the Gaza Strip and West Bank support holding immediate presidential and legislative elections, a new poll published Thursday said. The poll, by the Arab World for Research and Development (AWRAD) and reported by WAFA, said 95% of Gaza residents and 82% of West Bank residents support the holding of immediate legislative and presidential elections.

Abbas: Hamas opposes elections
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ma'an News Agency
February 14, 2013 - 1:00am

Fatah leader President Mahmoud Abbas says elections will be the basis to end the division, but that Hamas opposes a vote "at this stage." "An agreement has been reached with Hamas that we form a unity government to be headed by me, then we have parliamentary elections and Palestinian National Council elections three months after the Central Elections Commission is ready for elections," Abbas said at a meeting in Ramallah with newly-elected mayors and a delegation of senior PA officials.

Political Pivot in Israel?
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Council On Foreign Relations
by Bernard Gwertzman - (Interview) January 30, 2013 - 1:00am

In the wake of the January 22 Israeli parliamentary elections, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is seeking the largest coalition government he can secure, says expert David Makovsky, because "the biggest government means no one faction can hold him by the throat." He says that U.S. officials were pleased by the surge of votes toward the center and the likelihood that newspaper columnist and radio host Yair Lapid is destined to play a major role in the new government.

Trudy Rubin: Little settled by Israeli vote
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Philadelphia Inquirer
by Trudy Rubin - (Opinion) January 29, 2013 - 1:00am

Here's a pop quiz for those who have been too busy to notice the surprising results of Tuesday's Israeli election: Was the key issue (1) Prime Minister Benjamin "Bibi" Netanyahu's testy relationship with President Barack Obama; (2) whether Israel should bomb Iran's nuclear sites; or (3) whether to revive the mummified peace process?

In the end we're left with Netanyahu
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz
by Aluf Benn - (Opinion) January 28, 2013 - 1:00am

The elections are over, the votes have been counted, the banners folded away. Benjamin Netanyahu will continue as prime minister. His messages have changed slightly. During the campaign, Netanyahu wanted "a strong prime minister and a big party." Now he talks about "a broad and stable government." All the rest is as it was. It's the same Bibi, with the same worldview, the same experience and the same objectives.

Despite results of Israeli elections, Palestinians still don’t see a partner for peace in Jerusalem
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz
by Zvi Barel - (Opinion) January 25, 2013 - 1:00am

Hamas knows that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu lost big in the recent elections, but it also knows that whatever government emerges from coalition-building talks in Jerusalem is not going to be any more open to negotiating with the Palestinians.

Poll shows Israel opposition party wiped out
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Associated Press
(Analysis) November 2, 2012 - 12:00am

Palestinian issue no longer dominates Israeli election
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Xinhua
(Analysis) November 2, 2012 - 12:00am

When Israelis head to the polls on Jan. 22 to elect a new parliament, the economy is expected to be the main issue. The shift in focus to domestic issues means that the Israeli-Palestinian relations, which has been the dominated issue for the last 20 years, has fallen out of focus.

Israel backs Romney but Palestinians indifferent
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Daily Star
by Jonah Mandel - (Analysis) November 2, 2012 - 12:00am

Israel may be openly hoping that Republican challenger Mitt Romney will end up stealing the presidency from Barack Obama, but for the Palestinians it makes little difference who takes over the White House. With the US presidential race drawing to a close, Israelis have come out strongly in favour of the Republican nominee who they believe is likely to be a better friend to the Jewish state than President Obama.

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