<p>Palestinians voted for mayors and local councils in 93 communities across the West Bank on Saturday, their first chance to cast ballots in six years.<br /><br /></p>.<p>Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and his Fatah party hope the election will revive flagging popular support in an ostensibly fail-proof environment, with Fatah rival Hamas boycotting the West Bank vote. Hamas also blocked elections in Gaza, the territory it seized from Abbas in 2007.<br /><br />Abbas’ party could still walk away bruised, however, if turnout is particularly low or if Fatah renegades competing in several of the larger communities defeat candidates formally endorsed by the movement.<br /><br />Palestinians have no interest in peace with Israel, says Mitt Romney The election is also overshadowed by widespread voter apathy and a general sense of malaise.<br /><br />Abbas’ Palestinian Authority, a self-rule government in parts of the Israeli-controlled West Bank, is mired in a chronic cash crisis. Efforts to heal the Palestinian political split have failed. And prospects are virtually nil for resuming meaningful negotiations with Israel's hardline government on setting up a Palestinian state in the West Bank, Gaza and east Jerusalem, the territories Israel captured in 1967.<br /><br />Loss of hope may keep many from the polls, along with an appeal by Hamas to its supporters to stay home.<br /><br />“I’m not going to vote for anyone,” said Mahmoud Imran, a 22-year-old law student in the West Bank town of Ramallah. “I no longer believe those politicians. I no longer believe they will bring a state or anything else.”</p>
<p>Palestinians voted for mayors and local councils in 93 communities across the West Bank on Saturday, their first chance to cast ballots in six years.<br /><br /></p>.<p>Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and his Fatah party hope the election will revive flagging popular support in an ostensibly fail-proof environment, with Fatah rival Hamas boycotting the West Bank vote. Hamas also blocked elections in Gaza, the territory it seized from Abbas in 2007.<br /><br />Abbas’ party could still walk away bruised, however, if turnout is particularly low or if Fatah renegades competing in several of the larger communities defeat candidates formally endorsed by the movement.<br /><br />Palestinians have no interest in peace with Israel, says Mitt Romney The election is also overshadowed by widespread voter apathy and a general sense of malaise.<br /><br />Abbas’ Palestinian Authority, a self-rule government in parts of the Israeli-controlled West Bank, is mired in a chronic cash crisis. Efforts to heal the Palestinian political split have failed. And prospects are virtually nil for resuming meaningful negotiations with Israel's hardline government on setting up a Palestinian state in the West Bank, Gaza and east Jerusalem, the territories Israel captured in 1967.<br /><br />Loss of hope may keep many from the polls, along with an appeal by Hamas to its supporters to stay home.<br /><br />“I’m not going to vote for anyone,” said Mahmoud Imran, a 22-year-old law student in the West Bank town of Ramallah. “I no longer believe those politicians. I no longer believe they will bring a state or anything else.”</p>