The Palestinian High Court of Justice [official website] in Ramallah ordered the suspension of local elections in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip on Thursday. The first presidential election to take place in a decade [Reuters report] was scheduled for October 8. The court suspended the election due to the ongoing dispute between rival groups Fatah and Hamas concerning candidate lists, as well as East Jerusalem being unable to participate in the vote as it is annexed by Israel. The presiding judge stated, “[e]lections can’t take place in one place and not the other,” in his ruling [Al Jazeera report]. Fatah spokesman Osama Al-Qawasmi blamed Hamas for, “foiling the election,” while Hamas spokesman Sami Abu Zuhri claimed the court decision was politically motivated in favor of Fatah due to the weaker candidate list from that party. The court will hold another session to consider the issue on September 21.

The judicial system in Palestine has given rise to both internal and external criticism. In April Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas established a controversial new constitutional court [JURIST report]. Those that opposed the creation point out that Abbas stacked the court in his favor by appointing justices from his own political party widening the split between the Fatah and Hamas political groups. Also in August, Human Rights Watch released a report [JURIST report] that detailed five cases in Gaza and the West Bank where journalists and activists were arrested or detained by authorities due to their peaceful criticism of authorities. Activists suggested that court proceedings are used as a means to harass them into silence as they are often delayed and rescheduled due to lack of witnesses, which requires their constant presence at the court. In May a UN spokesperson urged Gaza to end the use of the death penalty [JURIST report] as the UN feels that Gaza’s standard in execution cases is lacking.