Palestinians voting for new mayors, local councils

PanARMENIAN.Net - Palestinians have begun voting for new mayors and local councils across the West Bank Saturday, Oct 20, in the first election here in six years, The Associated Press reports.

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and his Fatah movement hope the vote in 93 communities will revive flagging popular support. Some 515,000 registered voters are eligible and results are expected Sunday.

But there's widespread voter apathy. That's in part because Fatah's main rival, the Islamic militant Hamas, is boycotting the West Bank election and has banned voting in Gaza, the territory it seized from Abbas in 2007. Hamas says the political camps must reconcile ahead of any elections. Even with Hamas out of the picture, Fatah could still lose. In several towns, Fatah renegades are competing against the official Fatah slates. A low turnout would also boost Hamas, according to the AP.