By Dr. René Wildangel
After six years without elections in the Palestinian Territories, at least parts of the Palestinian population in the West Bank had the chance to cast their votes again on 20 October 2012. Within the last two years the elections had been postponed for several times due to the conflict between the leading parties Fatah and Hamas in the West Bank and Gaza.
The Hamas in Gaza boycotted the elections. Palestinians in East Jerusalem could not take part neither due to Israeli restrictions. Finally just in 94 out of 353 administrative units in the West Bank elections were actually held. In 181 districts there was only one electoral list and 78 districts postponed the voting to the 24 November 2012.
Notwithstanding these political difficulties, on 20 October 505.000 registered Palestinians had the chance to cast their vote and elect their local municipal council. In order to monitor the conduct of free and fair elections, local observers and agents of electoral lists observed the voting. In addition more than hundred international observers monitored the electoral process. hbs observed the elections with three local observers in election centers all over the West Bank. Please read the following statement with a summary about the organization, fairness and transparency during the electoral process and find an article by hbs office director Dr. René Wildangel here.