Palestinians call for local polls

RAMALLAH

The Palestinian government in the West Bank called yesterday for local elections to be held in the West Bank and Gaza on Oct. 20, the first since 2006, an official said.

“The Palestinian government decided today during its meeting to hold the local, municipal and district elections on Oct. 20 throughout the Palestinian territory,” the Palestinian official told Agence France-Presse on condition of anonymity.

The decision followed two such calls for local elections last year, with the Palestinian government in the West Bank seeking to hold the vote first in July 2011 and then in October 2011. It was at first scheduled for July 9, but after a surprise reconciliation deal between the rival Fatah and the Hamas movements, the date was put back to Oct. 22.