Palestinians in the occupied West Bank will not participate in the Israeli election scheduled for October 27, despite the Israeli government's policies affecting their daily lives, including settlement expansion, home demolitions, and movement restrictions. In Jabal al-Baba, a Bedouin community near Jerusalem, Israel exerts control over various aspects of life, including housing and access to resources.
The community, which consists of about 450 residents, is situated in Area C, which is under full Israeli military and civil control. Atallah al-Jahalin, the community representative, expressed that Palestinians feel disregarded, stating, "They treat us like something that doesn’t exist." He highlighted the lack of voting rights and the absence of democratic representation.
Residents of Jabal al-Baba, primarily from the Jahalin tribe, face prohibitions on building homes and infrastructure. Al-Jahalin noted that the community has experienced over 100 demolition operations in recent years, with Israeli authorities citing the lack of building permits, which are rarely granted to Palestinians. A report by the Israeli rights group Bimkom indicated that more than 99 percent of Palestinian building permit applications in Area C were rejected from 2021 to 2024.
While Palestinian development is restricted, Israeli settlements, deemed illegal under international law, continue to expand. In April, Israel's security cabinet reportedly approved 34 new settlements in one decision, according to the anti-settlement group Peace Now.
Al-Jahalin believes that the Israeli government aims to displace his community to facilitate settlement growth. He stated, "There is an Israeli plan to displace the people who are here. All of this is a means of pressure. We have to leave these areas for the benefit of the settlement projects."
In the upcoming election, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's Likud Party faces competition from a coalition of opposition parties that aim to maintain Israel as a Jewish and democratic state. Recent polls suggest a close race, with neither bloc likely to secure a majority. However, many Palestinian residents remain skeptical about any potential changes in government affecting their situation.
Jamal Juma’, coordinator of the Stop the Wall campaign, remarked that Palestinians have learned not to expect significant changes in Israeli policies regardless of the government in power. He noted that the Labour Party, historically considered more moderate, initiated settlement construction after 1967.
The E1 project, which aims to connect the settlement of Ma’ale Adumim to Jerusalem, poses a significant threat to Jabal al-Baba and other Bedouin communities. In August 2025, Israel approved the construction of 3,401 settler homes in E1, which Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich claimed would undermine the prospect of a Palestinian state. Netanyahu has also stated, "There will be no Palestinian state. This place belongs to us."
As the election approaches, Eisenkot, a potential opposition leader, has dismissed the idea of a Palestinian state as unrealistic, while also expressing concerns about the timing of settlement projects like E1. Kareem Jubran from B’Tselem described Israel's governance over Palestinians as akin to apartheid, asserting that changes in government do not alter the underlying system of control.
In Jabal al-Baba, al-Jahalin remains resolute in his commitment to his community, stating, "I, as a Palestinian, will stay, whether I die or live on this Earth." He emphasized the looming threat of displacement and the ongoing struggle for rights and recognition among Palestinians in the West Bank.