Palestinian elections postponed to 2027 as Israel and Abbas trade blame

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas postponed legislative elections from Nov. 28 to Sept. 11, 2027, citing Israeli obstacles, a claim Israel rejected while calling him a "corrupt dictator." Abbas announced the delay Saturday, moving both parliamentary and presidential votes to Sept. 11, 2027, marking the first such elections since 2006. Palestinian media reported Abbas cited Israeli "obstacles," while Israel's foreign minister accused him of a "ridiculous lie" to evade responsibility. Palestinian factions, including Fatah and Hamas, had agreed to recommend the postponement at a Cairo meeting Wednesday. Israel holds its own elections Oct. 27, and the international community had pushed for the Palestinian vote.