Analysts: Despite Hamas absence, elections still Fatah failure
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ma'an News Agency
October 22, 2012 - 12:00am

BETHLEHEM (Ma'an) -- The first elections held in the West Bank for six years reflect how frustrated Palestinians are with their political system and ruling party Fatah, political observers said Sunday. The poll was held on Saturday in 92 of the 353 municipalities in the West Bank. Other seats were uncontested, creating automatic winners, or failed to register any candidates in this round, and will hold polls next month.

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Disappointing Palestine Elections Point to Fundamental Issues
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Al-Ayyam
by Talal Awkal - (Opinion) October 22, 2012 - 12:00am

The results of the municipal elections did not meet the expectations of election officials in the West Bank. In fact, the outcome of the elections reflects the worsening political scene across the Palestinian territories. These local elections, which were supposed to be a cause for celebration for Palestinians, were a far cry from the 2006 legislative elections, which many Arabs wish to witness again. These were the first municipal elections to take place in seven years, and only occurred following repeated delays.

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Civic Duty and Economic Worries Drive Palestinian Voters in Parts of West Bank
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The New York Times
by Jodi Rudoren - October 21, 2012 - 12:00am

AL BIREH, West Bank — More than half the Palestinians who participated in municipal elections on Saturday said they did so because they saw voting as a civic duty, twice the portion giving the next most popular reason.

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Mixed Results for Fatah Amid Low Turnout in Municipal Elections in West Bank
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The New York Times
by Jodi Rudoren - October 20, 2012 - 12:00am

RAMALLAH, West Bank — The dominant Fatah faction of the Palestinian Authority posted mixed results in municipal elections across the West Bank on Saturday, winning in some key cities and losing in others, but with the whole exercise appearing compromised by a relatively low turnout.

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Palestinians, heading to the polls, complain about lack of competition
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Washington Post
by Karin Brulliard, Sufian Taha - October 19, 2012 - 12:00am

HEBRON, West Bank — When local elections open on Saturday, Palestinians across the West Bank will exercise their right to vote for the first time in six years. Here in this city, the poll will carry even more significance: A long 37 years have passed since residents last cast ballots for their municipal council.

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Divided Palestinians hold municipal elections without Hamas
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Reuters
by Jihan Abdalla - October 18, 2012 - 12:00am

RAMALLAH, Oct 18 (Reuters) - Palestinians in the West Bank go to the polls on Saturday in long-delayed municipal elections that have already highlighted deep divisions in the occupied territory and stoked complaints about a lack of leadership. The Oct. 20 ballot will hold up a cracked mirror to a political landscape clouded by financial crises, failure to reconcile the major Palestinian factions and stalemate in peacemaking efforts with Israel.

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Palestinian local elections kick off in West Bank among concerns
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Xinhua
October 18, 2012 - 12:00am

RAMALLAH, Oct. 18 (Xinhua) -- Palestinian municipal elections started in the West Bank Thursday for the first time since 2005 among concerns of excluding the Gaza Strip and East Jerusalem. The voting on Thursday was allocated for policemen and security staff, and the polling stations will be open for more than 518,000 eligible voters Saturday, Palestinian officials said.

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More than 1,000 women running in Palestinian elections
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from CNN
by Samuel Burke, Claire Calzonetti - October 18, 2012 - 12:00am

This Saturday, Palestinians in the West Bank will hold elections for the first time in six years, voting for municipal leaders. It takes place against a backdrop of a deep sense of frustration with the split between Palestinian factions Hamas and Fatah, the stalled economy, and the stalemate with Israel over final statehood. What's so unusual about this election is the number of women running.  Maysoun Qawasmi is leading the first all-female independent ticket, their slogan: 'by participating, we can'.

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Palestinians to vote again after 7-year hiatus
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Gulf News
by Dalia Hatuqa - October 17, 2012 - 12:00am

Ramallah: Just ahead of the much-vaunted local Palestinian elections, tensions flared amidst rivalling campaigners and billboards and brochures peppered the West Bank cities and villages.

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Hebron's Independent Women, Part I
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Daily Beast
by Simran Sachdev - (Editorial) October 17, 2012 - 12:00am

This Saturday, the West Bank city of Hebron will hold its first municipal elections in over three and a half decades. While this is critical for Hebron’s people, what makes these elections remarkable is the first all-women list to ever run in Palestinian politics.

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