News Analysis: Challenges ahead of first Palestinian local elections over decade

Palestinians have launched preparations for holding first local elections in 11 years, unfolding internal and external challenges ahead of national elections, say observers.

The Palestinian government decided in June to hold the local elections on Oct. 8 to choose domestic governing bodies like municipalities and village councils.

The Islamic Hamas movement running the Gaza Strip since 2007 said last week it will take part in the elections, after having requested special conditions.

The movement said it "will work to facilitate the elections" as long as it is based on integrity, equal opportunity and its results are honored.

The last time Hamas participated in local elections in Gaza Strip and West Bank was in 2004 and 2005.

The Palestinian National Authority (PNA) held local elections in October, 2012, but Hamas did not participate in it, saying the internal division should be ended before holding elections.

Second deputy head of the Palestinian Legislative Council (PLC) Hassan Khreishah stressed the importance of holding the elections in both Gaza and the West Bank after over 10 years of waiting for this overdue process, especially in Gaza.

Khreishah told Xinhua that elections is a "constitutional obligation and a right for citizens in Gaza Strip and the West Bank and must be held periodically, especially that it is for local services bodies and not completely political."

He hoped that holding this election would contribute to resolving "the complex Palestinian internal crisis," as it is likely to pave the way towards working seriously to hold legislative and presidential elections, "away from slogans and futile internal meetings," he said.

While all relevant parties stress the importance of fulfilling this constitutional obligation, the local elections remain threatened by the external reaction to its results, particularly by Israel and the donor community.

Khreishah said that following the winning of Hamas movement in last elections in 2006, Palestinians faced challenges from international reactions, then "Palestinians went through a tough experience when a financial siege and political isolation were imposed after Hamas won the 2006 elections," he said.

However, Khreishah said he believes the international and regional circumstances are now "more mature in dealing with the outcomes of Palestinian democracy," stressing that it is important to hold on to whatever results are and not to fear the international reaction, because "the world will have to deal with the reality."

Khreishah said he does not expect that a specific party will make a sweeping victory. He said "it is very important to accept the voting results and to deal with the rotation of power on the basis of partnership."

Minister of Local Governance Hussein Al-Araj said the government promised to commit to whatever results the ballots will bring whether in Gaza or West Bank.

He said the government will continue to deal with the local councils under all circumstances.

Gaza-based political analyst Hani Habib said the holding of local elections in October is "a timely and constitutional obligation that falls under the Basic Laws, according to which, elections must be held every four years."

Habib said holding those elections is important to pump fresh blood into the local governing bodies and renew its legitimacy to fulfill the increasing obligations towards the society.

"The previous elections in 2012 did not witness youth participation who have not previously exercised the meaning or value of electoral obligation until now," said Habib.

Habib agrees that holding the local elections should represent an opportunity to help rebuild confidence between Hamas and Fatah, the dominant faction of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO).

The last legislative elections were held in January 2006. Hamas movement won a great majority in the parliament.

The presidential elections were held a year before in which Fatah party's Mahmoud Abbas was elected as president.

Following the Hamas take-over of the Gaza Strip and the internal division, elections were constantly brought up in bilateral reconciliation talks between both parties, but without tangible results.

Political researcher Aqel Abu Qare' said that the coming elections would be considered as a kind of test for future national elections.

Abu Qare' told Xinhua that the elections would reflect the "Palestinian general approval of the current political trends and expectations in the future."

He said the importance of the local elections is that it resembles a minimized government, where the local governing bodies are expected to meet the services and basic needs of the population. Endit