Activist calls on Carney to intervene after Palestinian president postpones elections

A Palestinian political activist who campaigns for Palestinian-Israeli coexistence has written a letter to Prime Minister Mark Carney urging him to help preserve the Nov. 28 Palestinian elections.

On Saturday, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas postponed legislative elections as well as the presidential elections until September 2027, citing “obstacles ⁠posed by Israeli measures” as the reason for the postponement of “free, fair and inclusive elections.”

Samer Sinijlaw, who is head of the Palestinian political movement New Path (Masar Jadid), said in his letter to the PM, which was written the same day the postponement was announced: “I recognize the legitimate concerns regarding Israeli cooperation, access to polling stations, and the integrity of the electoral process, particularly in Gaza. These are serious challenges, but they must be addressed rather than used to justify another indefinite postponement of Palestinian democracy.”

He also wrote: “I am therefore appealing to you to intervene personally and urgently with President Abbas, together with Canada’s international partners, to ensure that the Palestinian Authority honours its commitment to hold elections.”

Carney announced his government’s commitment to recognize a Palestinian state in July 2025 based on commitments made by the Palestinian Authority, including a promise to hold general elections in 2026.

In a statement at the time, the PM said: “Canada intends to recognize the State of Palestine at the 80th Session of the United Nations General Assembly in September 2025.

“This intention is predicated on the Palestinian Authority’s commitment to much-needed reforms, including the commitments by Palestinian Authority President Abbas to fundamentally reform its governance, to hold general elections in 2026 in which Hamas can play no part, and to demilitarize the Palestinian state.”

Global Affairs Canada released a joint statement with the Foreign Ministers of Australia, Canada, France and the U.K. on Tuesday, saying they “deeply regret” Abbas’ decision to postpone the elections.

“Credible elections are an important element of the commitment that President Abbas and the Palestinian Authority made to reform, including democratic renewal and accountable governance, and are in line with the July 2025 New York Declaration,” it read. “Strengthening Palestinian governance is essential to continue building the institutional foundations of a viable two-state solution, which is the only path to lasting peace and security for both Israel and Palestine.”

The statement added that the nations will “continue to support efforts to deliver on these elections.”

In his recent letter, Sinijlaw said “Canada has a particularly important role to play” in preserving the November elections. “It was a commitment made directly to Canada and the international community, and one upon which Canada relied when recognizing Palestinian statehood,” he wrote.

Masar Jadid remains in the race. We oppose the delay and will use legal and administrative avenues to seek elections by spring 2027. We remain open to national dialogue and active among our people. We urge international partners to support Palestinians’ right to vote. pic.twitter.com/Zjq7MNA9z0

— Samer Sinijlawiسامر السنجلاوي (@SSinijlawi) October 12, 2026

He added that an estimated 88 per cent of eligible Palestinian voters had already registered to participate, demonstrating how seriously Palestinians are taking the opportunity to choose their leadership.

“Postponing these elections would undermine precisely those Palestinians who are working to build a credible, peaceful political alternative,” he added.

The activist is asking Carney to take four steps to urge the Palestinian Authority to honour its commitment to 2026 elections: contact President Abbas; publicly reaffirm Canada’s expectation that the Palestinian Authority proceed with the elections; express Canada’s opposition to the decision to postpone; and review discretionary Canadian assistance linked to Palestinian Authority governance until a commitment to elections is restored.

“For the sake of our children, I ask Canada to stand firm. They deserve accountable leadership, a voice in their future, and a reason to believe that peaceful political change is possible,” he wrote.

Samer also shared a letter he wrote to the European Union, urging its member states to defend the Palestinian elections, and expressed his “profound shock and frustration” at the news of the postponement of them in a social media post following the decision.

I received with profound shock and frustration the decision to cancel the legislative elections scheduled for 28 November 2026 and postpone them until 11 September 2027. I know that millions of Palestinians share this feeling, especially an entire generation that has waited…

— Samer Sinijlawiسامر السنجلاوي (@SSinijlawi) October 10, 2026

Meanwhile, the Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs (CIJA) is also calling on the Carney government to hold Palestinian leaders accountable for breaking its commitment to hold elections in 2026.

“While the Canadian government pursues punitive measures and sanctions against Israel, it must demonstrate that the Palestinians will also be held accountable for failing to honour their commitments and undermining the prospects for peace,” CIJA said in a statement shared on social media.

“Otherwise, the government risks a dangerous double standard that has implications for both the region and for the safety of Canadians as security experts warn that criticism of Israel has been exploited to fuel antisemitism, violence and even acts of terror.”

Elsewhere, in a post on X, ​Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar called Abbas’ decree “yet ​another ridiculous lie designed to evade responsibility and accountability.”

The November elections would have been the first Palestinian elections in more than 20 years.

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