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Source: http://www.gatestoneinstitute.org/8365/palestinians-free-fair-elections
Can the Palestinians Hold Free and Fair Elections?
(Gatestone Institute) Khaled Abu Toameh - The Palestinian Authority decided on June 21 to hold municipal elections in 382 municipalities in the West Bank and 25 in Gaza on October 8. The last Palestinian local elections were held in 2012, but only in the West Bank; Hamas did not participate. For the PA, the decision to hold new municipal elections is a gigantic gamble. If Hamas does decide to participate, it could easily win in several Palestinian cities, especially in the Hebron area in the southern West Bank. By holding the elections without Hamas' participation, the PA will risk further consolidating the split between the West Bank and Gaza - reinforcing the reality that the Palestinians already have two separate mini-states. Finally, even if the PA does hold the elections, the Palestinian street is convinced that its leaders will in any event steal the vote and install their loyalists.