This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-20013835
The article has changed 5 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Version 0 | Version 1 |
---|---|
Palestinians vote in West Bank local elections | |
(about 4 hours later) | |
Local elections are being held in the West Bank, the first Palestinian polls in more than six years. | |
The elections have repeatedly been delayed, and Hamas, the Islamist group that holds power in the Gaza Strip, is boycotting them. | The elections have repeatedly been delayed, and Hamas, the Islamist group that holds power in the Gaza Strip, is boycotting them. |
More than half the West Bank constituencies are not being contested. | |
Candidates from President Mahmoud Abbas's Fatah Party, which governs parts of the West Bank, face independents and dissidents. | |
Members of various left-wing parties are also running. | Members of various left-wing parties are also running. |
The BBC's Jon Donnison reports from the West Bank that far from being a cause for celebration, most Palestinians regard this weekend 's vote as a symbol of how dysfunctional their political system continues to be. | The BBC's Jon Donnison reports from the West Bank that far from being a cause for celebration, most Palestinians regard this weekend 's vote as a symbol of how dysfunctional their political system continues to be. |
The Palestinian Authority, of which Mahmoud Abbas is president, has faced economic protests recently over rising fuel and food prices. | The Palestinian Authority, of which Mahmoud Abbas is president, has faced economic protests recently over rising fuel and food prices. |
Lack of candidates | Lack of candidates |
The first stage of the elections is taking part in 91 of the West Bank's 353 municipalities. | |
Almost 900 polling stations are open from 07:00-19:00 local time (05:00-17:00GMT). | |
In 181 municipalities, councils were formed without elections due to a lack of candidates. | In 181 municipalities, councils were formed without elections due to a lack of candidates. |
The Israeli military retains control of the West Bank, but the Palestinians have been given a degree of self-rule in some areas. | The Israeli military retains control of the West Bank, but the Palestinians have been given a degree of self-rule in some areas. |
In Gaza, Hamas seized control in 2007, a year after winning a decisive victory in general elections. Israel withdrew from Gaza in 2005 but maintains a blockade around the enclave. | In Gaza, Hamas seized control in 2007, a year after winning a decisive victory in general elections. Israel withdrew from Gaza in 2005 but maintains a blockade around the enclave. |
An attempt at political reconciliation between Fatah and Hamas, which could have led to elections being held in both the West Bank and Gaza, has come to nothing. | An attempt at political reconciliation between Fatah and Hamas, which could have led to elections being held in both the West Bank and Gaza, has come to nothing. |