Skip to main content

Israeli, Palestinian candidates share electoral list in Jerusalem first

For the first time in history, Palestinians and Israelis are joining hands and running in the same electoral list in Jerusalem's municipal elections.
JERUSALEM, ISRAEL - OCTOBER 22:  (ISRAEL OUT) An Israeli woman casts her vote for the municipality elections at a polling station on October 22, 2013 in Jerusalem, Israel. Elections for 191 local authorities are being held today, including in Jerusalem where the Haredi-backed Moshe Leon will challenge incumbent Mayor Nir Barkat in the mostly highly-anticipated race. (Photo by Lior Mizrahi/Getty Images)

For the first time in a half-century, a joint Palestinian-Israeli list will compete in Jerusalem's municipal elections. The 350,000 Palestinians living in Jerusalem have boycotted the vote since Israel unilaterally unified Jerusalem in 1967 and created a single municipality, refusing to recognize and legitimize the Israeli occupation and annexation. Palestinians in East Jerusalem were given permanent residency but not citizenship, and thus can vote in municipal elections but not for the Knesset.

The former chairman of the Israeli Palestinian Bereaved Families for PeaceAziz Abu Sarah, and Israeli researcher and co-director of the Israel Palestine Creative Initiatives think tank Gershon Baskin decided to run in the upcoming municipal elections scheduled for next November in a joint list. The announcement was made April 25.

Access the Middle East news and analysis you can trust

Join our community of Middle East readers to experience all of Al-Monitor, including 24/7 news, analyses, memos, reports and newsletters.

Subscribe

Only $100 per year.