Palestinians start voting in municipal elections

12/23/2004 11:00:00 AM GMT

Palestinians started voting across the West Bank in the first municipal elections in 28 years which will serve as a test for next month’s presidential polls.

Correspondents in the occupied territories said that Thursday's vote is viewed as a rehearsal for the 9 January elections to elect a successor to the late Palestinian President, Yasser Arafat.

The election will also act as a barometer of strength between the Fatah ruling party and the Hamas movement, marking the first time for both groups to compete for voters support.

The date for Today’s round of municipal elections was planned before Arafat’s death in November. The last council election was held in the Palestinian territories in 1976.

In the past three decades, Palestinian communities in the West Bank and Gaza have been run by appointed mayors, first those selected by the Israeli army and then by the Palestinian Authority.

"This is a very important election because it prepares the way for the presidential election," said Firas Yaghi, chief of the municipal electoral commission.

Palestinian Prime Minister, Ahmed Qurei, who voted in the Jerusalem suburb of Abu Dis, also hailed the election as "the first step toward the establishment of the Palestinians state."

“Challenge”

The Fatah candidate and interim leader, Mahmood Abbas, is the most favorite to succeed Arafat in the upcoming elections.

On the other hand, Hamas has decided to boycott the presidential elections, but has listed some of its candidates for Thursday’s polls, marking the first time it participates in a Palestinian election.

Correspondents said that the election will also measure people’s support to Hamas outside its Gaza stronghold.

However, Fatah believes that it will win the elections. "It will be a challenge between Fatah and Hamas. It shows Palestinians are thirsty for democracy, and I can assure you Fatah will win," said top Fatah leader Hussein Sheikh.

Unexpected crush of people

Voters formed long lines at polling centers in the West Bank town of Jericho. Many people said that they were eager to participate in the voting process.

"It doesn't matter, one or two hours. I'm going to vote. I have been waiting for this for a long time," said farmer Nabil Abu Kattan, 48.

"Just the crush of people was totally unexpected," said Nasser Awanja, an election official. "Because it has been since 1976 since we have had elections they are really fired up," he added.

About 150,000 Palestinians are allowed to cast their ballot in the local elections. Some 800 candidates are competing for 306 municipal council positions. Two of 15 council seats are kept for woman in some municipalities.

Balloting is taking place in 26 municipalities across the West Bank for 12 hours until 1900 local time (1700 GMT). A similar process is expected to take place in the Gaza Strip by the end of next month.

Next year’s vote will likely take place in 600 towns and villages with a total of 1.2 million voters.