Ramallah parliamentary building crumbles as Palestinian Authority faces deepening crisis
The dilapidated parliament building in Ramallah reflects the stagnation of the Palestinian Authority ahead of postponed legislative elections.
In Ramallah, the former parliamentary chamber stands in ruins, its ceiling collapsed by humidity and its walls covered in dust, mirroring the paralysis of the Palestinian Authority. Staff report that electricity has not been paid since 2020, leaving microphones silent on the podiums. Samir Alkhayri, the 42-year-old caretaker, rattles rusted keys and admits he hopes the venue will once again host political life.
He recounted the last cohort of legislators who met there in 2007, following a Hamas victory and subsequent clashes with Mahmoud Abbas' Fatah faction that led to a split between Gaza and the West Bank. That split triggered more than ten years of parliamentary deadlock, and the building has remained unused since that time.
Why it matters
The building's decay highlights the stalled political process and institutional weakness facing the Palestinian Authority.
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