1976 West Bank local elections

Local elections were held in the West Bank on 12 April 1976, on the order of Israeli military authorities and under the 1955 Jordanian municipal elections law. About 63,000 voters cast their ballot, a voter turnout of 72.3%.[1] The result was a victory for supporters of the Palestine Liberation Organization.[2]

Background

The holding of elections was the idea of Shimon Peres, who hoped to establish moderate local leadership in the West Bank that would accept his idea of autonomy.[2] The elections were held under an amended version of the 1955 Jordanian electoral law, which granted the right to vote to all Palestinians over the age of 21,[2] the law having previously restricted the franchise to male property owners.[3] The changes in the franchise were opposed by Jordan, citing the Fourth Geneva Convention, which stated that an occupying power should maintain the status quo in any occupied territories", although the PLO supported the reform.[4]

Results

The elections saw a change in demographic of the elected politicians; 67% were under 50 compared to 40% in the 1972 elections.[5] The proportion of white-collar workers also increased from 20% to 40%.[5] Fourteen of the 24 elected mayors were new to office.[4]

City Elected mayor
Beit JalaBshara Daoud
Beit SahourHanna Atrash
BethlehemElias Freij
al-BirehIbrahim Taweel
GazaRashad al-Shawa
HalhulMohammed Milhim
HebronFahd Qawasmeh
JeninAhmed Camal A Sadi
JerichoAbdul Aziz Swaiti
NablusBassam Shakaa
QalqilyaAmin Nasser
RamallahKarim Khalaf
TulkarmHilmi Hanun
Source: Lukacs,[5] JTA,[3] ARIJ[4]

Aftermath

Mohammed Milhim was exiled by Israel in 1980 for being a member of the PLO Executive Committee, as was Fahd Qawasmeh, whilst eight other mayors were removed from office in 1982.[6]

References
  1. "Pro-plo, Communist Sweep in West Bank Elections: 72.3% of Eligible Voters. Including Women, Participate". Jewish Telegraphic Agency. 13 April 1976.
  2. Yehuda Lukacs (1999) Israel, Jordan, and the Peace Process, Syracuse University Press, p141
  3. Pro-plo, Communist Sweep in West Bank Elections: 72.3% of Eligible Voters. Including Women, Particip JTA, 13 April 2013
  4. 40 Years of Israeli Occupation Applied Research Institute - Jerusalem
  5. Lukacs, p144
  6. Lukacs, p145
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