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Top Palestinian Court Postpones Oct. 8 Municipal Elections Top Palestinian Court Postpones Oct. 8 Municipal Elections
(35 minutes later)
JERUSALEM — Palestinian politics are constantly in disarray. This time, the chaos is by court order.JERUSALEM — Palestinian politics are constantly in disarray. This time, the chaos is by court order.
The Palestinian high court on Thursday suspended municipal elections, scheduled to be held on Oct. 8 across the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, pending a second hearing after a challenge was lodged by a lawyer over balloting in East Jerusalem. A Palestinian official said that the next hearing would be on Sep. 21, although some initial reports said it would not take place until December.The Palestinian high court on Thursday suspended municipal elections, scheduled to be held on Oct. 8 across the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, pending a second hearing after a challenge was lodged by a lawyer over balloting in East Jerusalem. A Palestinian official said that the next hearing would be on Sep. 21, although some initial reports said it would not take place until December.
“From what I know it is the intention of the prime minister, the president’s office and the elections committee to hold the elections as scheduled,” said Jamal Dajani, the director of strategic communications and media in the office of the prime minister of the Palestinian Authority, Rami Hamdallah. “But we are bound by the court decision.” “From what I know, it is the intention of the prime minister, the president’s office and the elections committee to hold the elections as scheduled,” said Jamal Dajani, the director of strategic communications and news media in the office of the prime minister of the Palestinian Authority, Rami Hamdallah. “But we are bound by the court decision.”
Mr. Dajani was speaking by telephone from the West Bank city of Ramallah, where the authority is headquartered.Mr. Dajani was speaking by telephone from the West Bank city of Ramallah, where the authority is headquartered.
President Mahmoud Abbas’s party, Fatah, which dominates the Palestinian Authority in the West Bank, has long been at odds with its bitter rival, Hamas, the Islamic militant group that controls the coastal territory of Gaza. President Mahmoud Abbas’s party, Fatah, which dominates the Palestinian Authority in the West Bank, has long been had a bitter rivalry with Hamas, the Islamic militant group that controls the coastal territory of Gaza.
The two parties have not faced off in an election for a decade, since Hamas trounced Fatah in legislative elections in 2006 and then seized full control of Gaza a year later. The two parties have not faced off in an election for a decade, since Hamas trounced Fatah in legislative elections in 2006 and seized full control of Gaza a year later.
The authority held municipal elections in the West Bank in 2012, after balloting was postponed twice, but they failed to reflect popular support because Hamas refused to participate or to allow balloting in the territory it controls. The authority held municipal elections in the West Bank in 2012, after balloting was postponed twice, but they failed to reflect popular sentiment because Hamas refused to participate or to allow balloting in the territory it controls.
The court case that has snarled the latest effort was brought by a Palestinian lawyer and is largely based on his complaint that there will be no municipal balloting in East Jerusalem, territory that Israel annexed after seizing it from Jordan in the 1967 war.The court case that has snarled the latest effort was brought by a Palestinian lawyer and is largely based on his complaint that there will be no municipal balloting in East Jerusalem, territory that Israel annexed after seizing it from Jordan in the 1967 war.
The Palestinians demand East Jerusalem as the capital of a future state. The Israelis claim sovereignty over it as part of their capital, although the annexation has not been internationally recognized.The Palestinians demand East Jerusalem as the capital of a future state. The Israelis claim sovereignty over it as part of their capital, although the annexation has not been internationally recognized.
Mr. Dajani said the decision to proceed with elections that excluded East Jerusalem “had to do with sovereignty and an Israeli decision not to allow polling stations or people to vote.” Jerusalem had long been “a sore issue,” he added.Mr. Dajani said the decision to proceed with elections that excluded East Jerusalem “had to do with sovereignty and an Israeli decision not to allow polling stations or people to vote.” Jerusalem had long been “a sore issue,” he added.
The Palestinian court is also examining issues related to the legality of municipal balloting in the Gaza Strip, where Hamas has been using the courts to block some Fatah candidates. The Palestinian court is also examining issues related to the legality of municipal voting in the Gaza Strip, where Hamas has been using the courts to block some Fatah candidates.
The court’s decision to suspend the municipal election unleashed a flood of speculation, with Hamas asserting that the court had come to the rescue of Fatah, which feared electoral losses. The court’s decision to suspend the municipal elections unleashed a flood of speculation, with Hamas saying the court had come to the rescue of Fatah, which feared electoral losses.
Hazem Kassem, a spokesman for Hamas in Gaza, said by telephone that the court ruling was “a political decision that seeks to protect the Fatah movement” after some of its lists of candidates fell apart.Hazem Kassem, a spokesman for Hamas in Gaza, said by telephone that the court ruling was “a political decision that seeks to protect the Fatah movement” after some of its lists of candidates fell apart.