Palestinians held municipal elections on Saturday in the occupied West Bank, a first democratic exercise in years, but one that has also raised tensions between the rival Fatah and Hamas movements. Underlining the political schism, about 800,000 Palestinians were expected to vote for representatives in 145 local councils in the West Bank, but not in the Gaza Strip. "Unfortunately this joy is taking place in the West Bank alone because Hamas is preventing the people from practicing this right in Gaza." Holding them in the West Bank alone, without Gaza, will cement division," said Hamas spokesman Fawzi Barhoum. Some polls show that if parliamentary elections were held now, Hamas would win them in both Gaza and the West Bank.

Source: Egypt Independent May 13, 2017 09:45 UTC