Voters cast ballots Saturday for municipal councils in the Israeli-occupied West Bank in a rare democratic exercise following a decade and a half of delays to Palestinian elections. This article is published by France24. Here is an excerpt:

There was no immediate figure for overall turnout after polls closed at 7 pm (1700 GMT). But three hours earlier, the Central Elections Commission said just 39 percent of eligible voters had cast their ballots.

It was the second phase of municipal elections after a first round of voting in December in 154 West Bank villages.

Saturday’s vote was held in 50 towns and cities, with many elections uncontested, or without any candidates in some cases.

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