- Title: West Bank court gives green light to municipal election but excludes Gaza
- Date: 3rd October 2016
- Summary: RAMALLAH, WEST BANK (OCTOBER 3, 2016) (REUTERS) PALESTINIAN LAWYER, NAEL HAWHA, ADVOCATE IN PALESTINIAN MUNICIPAL ELECTION CASE, SITTING IN CAFE HAWHA TAKING NOTES HAWHA TALKING ON MOBILE PHONE HAWHA READING COURT DECISION (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) PALESTINIAN LAWYER, NAEL HAWHA, ADVOCATE IN PALESTINIAN MUNICIPAL ELECTION CASE, SAYING: "Today we have a fact, a decision made by the Palestinian high court which is ordering the central election committee to resume the election process for all of the local municipal councils in the country (Palestinian territories) in Jerusalem and the West Bank but not in Gaza." GAZA CITY, GAZA (OCTOBER 3, 2016) (REUTERS) HAMAS SPOKESMAN IN GAZA, FAWZI BARHOUM, IN OFFICE PALESTINIAN FLAG (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) HAMAS SPOKESMAN IN GAZA, FAWZI BARHOUM, SAYING: "Hamas will contact the other Palestinian (political) parties, in order to put a strategy for how to face the unilateral decisions taken by Abu Mazen (Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas) and Fatah (political party) about the Palestinians issue. And to discuss how to face this dangerous decision about the elections and the democratic process." BARHOUM IN OFFICE
- Embargoed: 18th October 2016 15:39
- Keywords: Palestinians court municipal election West Bank Gaza
- Location: RAMALLAH, WEST BANK / GAZA CITY, GAZA
- City: RAMALLAH, WEST BANK / GAZA CITY, GAZA
- Country: Palestinian Territories
- Topics: Government/Politics
- Reuters ID: LVA00152GB29Z
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: In the latest display of differences between Palestinian factions high court in Ramallah ruled on Monday (October 3) that municipal elections in the occupied territories could be held only in the West Bank and not in the Hamas-ruled Gaza Strip, amending its earlier ruling.
On September 8, the court said the poll, originally scheduled for October 8, could not go ahead after Hamas disputed party lists drawn up by Western-backed Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas's Fatah party.
But in its latest ruling the court said it "decided to implement the cabinet's decision to hold elections in all local councils except in the Gaza Strip".
Hamas swiftly condemned the ruling as politically motivated.
The Central Elections Committee has, under law, up to four weeks to set a new date, which would be announced by the Palestinian cabinet.
A vote in the occupied West Bank and in the Gaza Strip would have been the first involving Hamas and Fatah since 2006, when Hamas won a surprise victory in legislative polls, an outcome that led to a rupture in Palestinian politics. Hamas seized the Gaza Strip from forces loyal to Abbas in 2007. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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