Will the West Bank hold elections without Gaza?
Many scenarios emerged when the Palestinian local elections were delayed, with some saying elections may be held in the West Bank, and not in the Gaza Strip, where Hamas may appoint its candidates in the local bodies.
As Palestinians were preparing for the local elections slated for Oct. 8, the High Court of Justice in Ramallah announced Sept. 8 a surprising decision to hold the elections on Sept. 21 instead. However, when Sept. 21 came, the court decided to postpone the elections until Oct. 3. In light of these repeated delays, the Central Elections Committee (CEC) announced Sept. 21 that holding the planned elections on Oct. 8 was unfeasible, as the delays have disrupted the electoral process’ timetables.
This decision sparked mutual accusations between Hamas and Fatah over the postponement of the elections. While Hamas viewed the postponement as a cancellation of the elections, Fatah accused Hamas of sabotaging the elections. Meanwhile, dozens of leftists rallied before the High Court of Justice on Sept. 21 to express opposition and demand the court to reconsider its decision.
The repeated delays of the election raised many speculations about the scenarios that will ensue. Some spoke about the postponement of the elections until further notice or their cancellation, while others mentioned holding them in the West Bank without Gaza, or vice versa. But the possibility of holding the elections with both Fatah’s and Hamas’ approval was excluded given their disagreement over the appeals against Fatah’s electoral lists submitted by Hamas before Gaza courts, which Fatah does not recognize.
Kayed al-Ghul, a member of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine’s (PFLP) political bureau, told Al-Monitor, “There are high expectations that the elections will be held in the West Bank without Gaza, despite the Palestinians’ disapproval, as this would prevent them from expressing their right in choosing their leaders. If the Palestinian Authority [PA] were to hold the elections this way, the division that erupted in 2007 between the West Bank and the Gaza Strip would deepen. As for the PFLP’s participation in such elections, the issue will be discussed when the time comes.”
