Editing Elections in Palestine (section)

== Importance of the elections ==
{{see also|Next Palestinian general election|Next Palestinian presidential election}}

Elections in the [[Palestinian Authority]] are held to exercise the Palestinian right to [[self-determination]] in connection with their right to establish their own state, but are held under military occupation.<ref>UN General Assembly, [https://unispal.un.org/UNISPAL.NSF/0/A2C2938216B39DE485256EA70070C849 ''Resolution 58/292. Status of the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem'']. 17 mei 2004 (doc.nr. A/RES/58/292).</ref> They are held in the framework of the [[Oslo Accords]], meaning that the power of the PNA was (and is) limited to matters such as culture, education, ID-cards, and the distribution of land and water as per the Oslo Interim Agreement.<ref group=upper-alpha>From the [[Oslo II|Oslo II-accord]]:<br />
Article I:<br />
1. Israel shall transfer powers and responsibilities as specified in this Agreement ... Israel shall continue to exercise powers and responsibilities not so transferred.<br />
Article IX:<br />
5 a. In accordance with the DOP, the Council will not have powers and responsibilities in the sphere of foreign relations, which sphere includes the establishment abroad of embassies, consulates or other types of foreign missions and posts or permitting their establishment in the West Bank or the Gaza Strip, the appointment of or admission of diplomatic and consular staff, and the exercise of diplomatic functions. <br />
5 b. ... the PLO may conduct negotiations and sign agreements with states or international organizations for the benefit of the Council in the following cases only: 1. economic agreements ...; 2. agreements with donor countries for the purpose of implementing arrangements for the provision of assistance to the Council ; 3. agreements for the purpose of implementing the regional development plans ...; 4. cultural, scientific and educational agreements.</ref><ref>ProCon.org, [http://israelipalestinian.procon.org/view.background-resource.php?resourceID=000921 ''1995 Oslo Interim Agreement''] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151001040405/http://israelipalestinian.procon.org/view.background-resource.php?resourceID=000921 |date=1 October 2015 }}. 28 September 1995. [http://www.unhcr.org/refworld/pdfid/3de5ebbc0.pdf pdf at unhcr]</ref>

In October 2007, 2 ex-ministers and 45 PLC members were in Israeli detention.<ref name=CEIRPP_2007>CEIRPP, 4 October 2007, [http://documents-dds-ny.un.org/doc/UNDOC/GEN/N07/531/14/pdf/N0753114.pdf?OpenElement ''Report of the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People''], pag. 11, par. 30 (doc.nr. A/62/35)</ref> In July 2012, there were 4,706 Palestinian prisoners in Israeli prisons. Of these, 22 were PLC members, of which 18 were in administrative detention.<ref>Addameer, [http://www.addameer.org/etemplate.php?id=496 ''Addameer Monthly Detention Report - 1 July 2012''] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121019163115/http://www.addameer.org/etemplate.php?id=496 |date=19 October 2012 }}.</ref><ref name=addameer>Addameer, [http://www.addameer.org/etemplate.php?id=339 Palestinian Legislative Council Members] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130412201616/http://addameer.org/etemplate.php?id=339 |date=2013-04-12 }}, June 2012</ref><ref name=memo>Middle East Monitor (MEMO), [http://www.middleeastmonitor.com/news/middle-east/2821-palestinian-elected-representatives-are-still-detained-by-israel Palestinian elected representatives are still detained by Israel] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131224184404/https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/news/middle-east/2821-palestinian-elected-representatives-are-still-detained-by-israel |date=December 24, 2013 }}, 14 September 2011</ref> The November 2013 figures of Addameer give about 5,000 prisoners imprisoned by Israel, of which 14 are members of the Palestinian Legislative Council (10 PLC members in [[administrative detention]]).<ref>[http://www.addameer.org/etemplate.php?id=652 ''Addameer Monthly Detention Report - 1 November 2013''] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131224125901/http://www.addameer.org/etemplate.php?id=652 |date=December 24, 2013 }}.</ref>

Hamas announced its intention to once again boycott local elections and has repeatedly prevented free, local elections since it first took power of Gaza in 2004.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://ecfr.eu/special/mapping_palestinian_politics/municipal-elections-2021/|title=Local Elections (2021-2022)|date=October 7, 2021|website=ECFR|accessdate=February 25, 2024}}</ref>