Commission says local elections cannot be held as planned due to court
decision
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RAMALLAH, September 21, 2016 (WAFA - PLO news agency) – The Central
Elections Commission (CEC) said on Wednesday that local elections planned
for October 8 cannot be held as scheduled after the Supreme Court of Justice
postponed hearings on holding the elections to October 3.

The court ruled on September 8 to temporarily halt all activities related to
holding local election citing problems with holding them in Jerusalem and
Gaza.

The CEC said in a press release that it will continue to freeze all
activities pertaining to the elections until a decision on the case is
taken.

It said that as a result of the court decision on Wednesday, the original
date set by the government for the elections can no longer be feasible.

Fareed Tamallah, spokesman of the CEC, said the postponement of the court
hearing was because the court needs to hear views from various parties on
the elections.

Minister of Local Government, Hussein al-Araj, said the ministry will uphold
the court’s decision, adding that existing municipal councils will continue
to function until the court decides otherwise on the elections.