874 electoral lists to vie in upcoming Palestine polls

By Lubabah Thuqan

RAMALLAH, Palestine (AA) - At least 874 electoral lists have registered to compete in Palestinian municipal polls slated for October, including 787 in the Israeli-occupied West Bank and 87 in the blockaded Gaza Strip, according to Palestine’s official electoral commission.

In a Monday statement, the commission said 867 registration applications had been approved so far, while another seven had been rejected after failing to meet the necessary legal requirements.

The commission added, however, that rejected lists had the right to appeal the decision within three days.

It went on to explain that list representatives could withdraw their respective lists’ candidacy requests until Sept. 23, "but existing lists cannot be amended and cannot withdraw or add new candidates".

Palestinian municipal polls will be held on Oct. 8 across the West Bank and Gaza Strip.

Palestinian resistance movement Hamas, which has governed the Gaza Strip since 2007, boycotted 2012 municipal polls due to ongoing differences between it and the West Bank-based Fatah movement of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas.

This time around, however, Hamas plans to back candidates who will run on a list of "technocrats" with expertise in municipal affairs -- especially the provision of public services -- and prominent tribal figures.