West Bank: Seats reserved for Christians in local elections

Church of the Nativity, Bethlehem

Source: Fides

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas (Abu Mazen) has confirmed the number of seats reserved for each city to Christian candidates with a presidential decree, ahead of the municipal elections scheduled for 13 May.

According to the decree, dated 15 March, eight seats out of 15 will be reserved to Christian candidates in the municipal councils in Ramallah and Bethlehem, and 10 seats out of 13 in the municipal of Beit Sahour and Beit Jala. In Bir Zeit 10 out of 13 municipal councilors will be of Christian faith, while in the city of Zababdeh, seven out of 10.

Sources close to the Palestinian Presidency, reported the presidential decree as a reflection of the intention of President Abbas to ensure adequate political representative to Palestinian Christians, especially in the cities where they are present in greater numbers.