The Call for Local Elections in 2010 (cancelled)

On 8 February 2010, the Cabinet issued a decision to hold nationwide local elections on 17 July 2010. The elections were scheduled to take place in 302 localities in the West Bank and 25 in the Gaza Strip.

Due to political dissent in the Gaza Strip and the CEC’s inability to carry out its mission there, the Cabinet issued a decision on 25 April to postpone local elections in the Gaza districts until the CEC was able to execute the necessary procedures and preparations according to the law. On 10 June 2010, the final day for nomination, the Cabinet issued an unexpected decision to cancel local elections in all areas.

Accordingly, a number of lawsuits were brought before the High Court of Justice to challenge the Cabinet’s decision. On 13 December 2010, the High Court ruled that the Cabinet’s decision to cancel the local elections had indeed been illegal. The Cabinet subsequently issued a statement in which it expressed respect for the Court’s ruling. It later called for local elections to be held in 2011. (For further information, kindly see local elections 2011.)

Despite the fact that the 2010 local elections were cancelled, it seems appropriate to provide further information regarding the local authorities in which local elections were meant to be held.