Palestinians to vote again after 7-year hiatus

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.

For the first time since 2005,municipal elections were set to take place in the West Bank on October 20, and with campaigning lasting about two weeks, election fever reached a level high.

The elections, however, are being confined to Palestine Liberation Organisation (PLO) factions and independents, as Hamas announced a boycott in the West Bank.

Palestinian residents of Occupied Jerusalem are not allowed to participate. The Gaza Strip, controlled by the Islamic Resistance Movement, is not partaking in these elections. Some Islamist candidates, however, are participating as independents.

The last municipal elections in 2005, which took place in both the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, saw a victory of many pro-Hamas blocs. A year later, the movement won parliamentary elections. October’s local elections are taking place after a series of postponements spanning two years marred by mutual accusations and lawsuits between the two sparring factions.

Most candidates in this upcoming ballot are factionally aligned, with a majority belonging to Fateh, the party of Palestinian Authority (PA) President Mahmoud Abbas, and other PLO factions such as Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP) and the Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine (DFLP).

Some Fateh members have run under independent tickets, raising the ire of the ruling party and leading to threats of expelling those running under rival groups’ tickets from the party.

The vote also comes at a time when efforts to reach a reconciliation deal between bitter rivals Fateh and Hamas, have come to a standstill. Gaza-based Hamas spokesman Sami Abu Zuhri has even dubbed the upcoming elections “illegitimate,” adding they are in contravention of past reconciliation agreements that dictate the creation of a national unity government prior to elections being held. Further, Abu Zuhri said the PA does not have the constitutional authority to hold these elections.

However, some say that Hamas is boycotting this year’s elections for reasons that have more to do with its internal politics than it does its rivalry with Fateh and the PA. “Hamas doesn’t see that these local elections are important right now,” said Aref Jaffal, Director of the Arab World Democracy and Electoral Monitor (Al Marsad).

“Local elections were not given any weight in the reconciliation talks with Fateh as parliamentary and presidential elections were. Moreover, Hamas is under financial boycott by the EU and US, which would affect its ability to govern locally in the West Bank.”

Despite Hamas’ boycott, Jaffal sees that these elections are important. “Most localities have long exceeded their legal mandate and no longer answer to their constituents. These elections provide new blood and legitimacy, especially when the PA and parliament are lacking it.” 

With Hamas out of the picture, local elections are seen more as a testament to Fateh’s ability to show discipline than its own strength vis-à-vis Hamas. 

Only 54% of eligible voters to cast ballots 

According to the Central Elections Commission (CEC) in Ramallah, there are approximately 4,700 candidates running for municipal seats, a quarter of whom are women. One bloc that has gained much interest of late is an all-woman group running in the southern West Bank city of Hebron. 

CEC Chairman Hanna Nasser said there are more than 300 blocs competing for more than 1,000 council seats. Elections will be held in 94 localities in the West Bank, and not in 181 others, where only one bloc is running, rendering its candidates victorious by acclamation. 

Dr. Nasser also said that more than 518,000 Palestinians are expected to vote in these elections. These voters, however, only represent around 54 per cent of the total number of eligible voters in the West Bank. Despite these dwindling numbers, more than 800 polling stations will be open to receive voters. An early ballot will be held on October 18 solely for Palestinian security forces. 

These upcoming elections are focusing on a myriad of issues, most notably problems arising due to a construction boom in the West Bank brought about by cheap loans offered by banks. Competition between the different blocs is focused on urban planning, drainage system creation, road rehabilitation and youth empowerment. 

They are, however, also a litmus test for public sentiment, which has increasingly grown weary of the political impasse and tough economic times. 

Difficult economic times 

According to the Central Elections Commission, the election is costing an estimated $6 million. This comes at a time when the Palestinian Territories are in economic dire straits mainly due to a shortfall in external funding.

Many of the PA’s usual donors have yet to cough up their usual aid packages, creating a dampening effect on the economy, especially since the PA is the largest employer here. Moreover, Israel continues to control every facet of life in the West Bank, slapping stringent hurdles on movement, stifling import and export efforts and hindering development and growth. 

In addition to a stalemate in the political situation, the rise in the cost of living, unpaid salaries and unemployment reaching 17 per cent in the West Bank, Palestinians have been taking to the streets to express a growing sentiment of discontent.

So far, the PA has only managed to secure its 180,000 employees with partial salaries; even October’s pay check is yet to be dispersed, an issue not boding well for the PA or its employees especially with Eid, one of the most important Muslim holidays, only weeks away.

“Why should I care about the elections, when I haven’t been paid since September,” said Ayed, a disgruntled 33-year-old PA employee. “I have loans and Eid is at the doors. Participating in elections will not help me with either of these.”

Other Palestinians said the economic situation is what’s making them adamant about participating in the elections. “We have no control over the economy,” said Laith, a 22-year-old student. “So let’s vote on what we can control and let’s bring about the people we want. We haven’t had a say in anything for years, so it’s a must that we go to the polls and participate in a democratic process.”

Sporadic protests are expected to persist in the West Bank as the prices of basic commodities and taxes continue to rise, and minimum wage is set at $345, all to the ire of the Palestinian workers’ unions. If anything, the peculiarities of these upcoming elections are proving that in the eyes of Palestinians, the economic situation is trumping political and national affairs.

Dalia Hatuqa is a freelance journalist based in Ramallah