Palestinians to vote in first elections since Gaza war
Municipal elections in the West Bank and a central area of Gaza see nearly 1.5 million registered voters participating.
In a significant move, Palestinians in the West Bank and a central area of Gaza are scheduled to vote on Saturday for municipal elections, marking the first such vote since the recent Gaza war.
This election, while narrow in its political field, is marked by widespread disillusionment among voters.
Nearly 1.5 million people are registered to vote in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, as well as approximately 70,000 individuals in Gaza's Deir el-Balah area, according to the Ramallah-based Central Elections Commission.The elections present a unique scenario where most electoral lists align with President Mahmud Abbas’s secular-nationalist Fatah party or operate independently.
Notably, there are no lists affiliated with Fatah's archrival Hamas, which controls nearly half of the Gaza Strip.
In many cities, including Nablus and Ramallah, only one list has been submitted, resulting in automatic wins without necessitating a vote.Despite these circumstances, individuals such as Mahmud Bader from Tulkarem express skepticism about the impact of these elections.
Bader points out that the Israeli occupation holds significant control over the region, rendering local elections seemingly ineffective.
The polling stations in the West Bank will be open from 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM, while in Deir Al-Balah, polls will close at 5:00 PM due to limited electricity access resulting from the recent war.The significance of these elections is not lost on observers.
UN Coordinator Ramiz Alakbarov commended the commission for organizing a "credible process" and highlighted Saturday's elections as an important opportunity for Palestinians to exercise their democratic rights during challenging times.
This election, while narrow in its political field, is marked by widespread disillusionment among voters.
Nearly 1.5 million people are registered to vote in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, as well as approximately 70,000 individuals in Gaza's Deir el-Balah area, according to the Ramallah-based Central Elections Commission.The elections present a unique scenario where most electoral lists align with President Mahmud Abbas’s secular-nationalist Fatah party or operate independently.
Notably, there are no lists affiliated with Fatah's archrival Hamas, which controls nearly half of the Gaza Strip.
In many cities, including Nablus and Ramallah, only one list has been submitted, resulting in automatic wins without necessitating a vote.Despite these circumstances, individuals such as Mahmud Bader from Tulkarem express skepticism about the impact of these elections.
Bader points out that the Israeli occupation holds significant control over the region, rendering local elections seemingly ineffective.
The polling stations in the West Bank will be open from 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM, while in Deir Al-Balah, polls will close at 5:00 PM due to limited electricity access resulting from the recent war.The significance of these elections is not lost on observers.
UN Coordinator Ramiz Alakbarov commended the commission for organizing a "credible process" and highlighted Saturday's elections as an important opportunity for Palestinians to exercise their democratic rights during challenging times.
