Your Excellency President Mahmoud Abbas,
President of the Palestine Liberation Organization,
Esteemed Members of the Palestine Liberation Organization,
Greetings,
Subject: Youths’ Participation in the Political System and Shared National Destiny
In light of the critical challenges confronting the Palestinian people—challenges that demand collective responsibility and unified efforts—I write to highlight a vital issue that directly affects the present and future of our national struggle: youths’ limited engagement in the Palestinian political system.
As you know, Palestine is home to 1.19 million young people aged 18 to 29, making up over 22% of the population, according to mid-2023 data from the Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics. Despite their significant presence, this demographic is starkly underrepresented in decision-making roles, with youth holding not more than 1% of leadership positions in Palestine.
Youth have also been consistently excluded from representation in all 19 Palestinian governments since the establishment of the Palestinian Authority. They are also absent from key decision-making bodies within the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) and remain significantly underrepresented in the leadership ranks of political parties.
The issue extends beyond Palestinian youths’ limited political participation. A large segment of young Palestinians face poverty, unemployment, and lack of opportunities. According to the Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics, the unemployment rate among young graduates with a diploma or higher stands at 47%—32% in the West Bank and an alarming 70% in Gaza. Notably, these figures were recorded prior to the aggression on Palestinians. They are not merely statistics but are widely seen as critical warning signs, jeopardizing the stability of our society.
It does not stop there, particularly given the limited involvement of youth in government policy-making, despite the National Policy Agenda 2021-2023 emphasizing the need to enhance youth participation in public life and decision-making. In my view, true partnership goes beyond seasonal invitations for youth to share their opinions and necessitates strengthening their representation in various decision-making frameworks.
The marginalization of youth and their exclusion from decision-making positions is clearly reflected in the limited responsiveness of these decisions to their needs and the needs of their communities. This has led to a growing sense of danger, manifested in widespread frustration and loss of confidence in the public system, which risks increasing alienation, divisions, and fragmentation within Palestinian society. This comes at a time when we urgently need internal national unity and solidarity to confront the threats to our cause and existence on our land.
The significant shortfall in youths’ representation and political participation fails to meet their aspirations or reflect their critical role in shaping a Palestinian future and resisting the occupation. This lack of youth involvement deepens the trust gap between the political system and the Palestinian public, further undermining national unity. Therefore, we call for the urgent need to strengthen internal cohesion by ensuring the inclusion of all societal groups, especially youth, in decision-making processes.
The exclusion of youth from decision-making positions undermines social and political renewal and poses a threat to the national identity, which the occupation systematically seeks to erase. Palestinian youth are the frontline defenders of our culture and identity, yet they require support and care to strengthen their role against the occupation's relentless efforts to distort the Palestinian narrative.
It is crucial to strengthen youth representation and adopt binding policies that ensure fair and meaningful representation of youth in all institutions of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) and state institutions. Additionally, there is an urgent need to launch an initiative embracing Palestinian youth by forming a youth advisory council for the PLO Executive Committee, the sole legitimate representative of the Palestinian people, to incorporate the vision, perspectives, and aspirations of youth in decision-making.
Your Excellency President Mahmoud Abbas, Chairman of the Palestine Liberation Organization’s Executive Committee, the current situation demands immediate and decisive action from the Palestinian leadership. We await decisions that will restore trust in the political system and bolster our collective resilience in the face of this brutal occupation.
Sincerely,
Mahmoud Al-Atawnha
Participant in the “Symposia II” project implemented by REFORM Association
The opinions expressed in this article are the author's views and not necessarily the Association's or donor's opinion.
