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Palestinians elect local councils in West Bank only, 2nd time in 10 years

Xinhua, May 13, 2017 Adjust font size:

Local elections process has begun Saturday morning in the West Bank only and not in Gaza Strip, to choose their local representatives for village or city councils, without the participation of three Palestinian factions; Islamic Hamas movement, Islamic Jihad party and left wing Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP).

Over 780,000 eligible voters will vote in 145 councils, while 181 councils only registered a single electoral list, so its seats will be awarded without a polling process.

In 65 councils no lists registered to run for elections, which means that the mandate of existing councils will be extended till next round of local elections.

The local elections are also expected to take place in towns and villages around East Jerusalem, but not in Jerusalem city, where a special governance body is to be put up regulated by Palestinian elections law.

Last local elections took place in 2012 in the West Bank only, which was a first in seven years. Internal rivalry and disputes between Palestinian top factions like President Mahmoud Abbas's Fatah party and the Islamic Hamas movement based in Gaza have lead to delaying the elections several times.

Hamas took part in the first local elections held in 2005, which chose nearly 100 local councils, as the process was never completed, then in parliamentary elections in 2006 marking a sweeping victory by winning 74 seats out of the 132 Legislative Council elections.

However, since it seized control over the Gaza Strip in 2007, Hamas had refused to take part in any elections saying the internal division should be ended before holding local elections. Endit