Within Palestinian institutions, Local Government in the West Bank is the sole remaining layer of government that has been subjected to the discipline of regular democratic elections administered by the Central Election Commission. These polls and the councils that they engender are therefore a rich source for understanding Palestinian political life.

The findings contained in this report will hopefully contribute to a recalibration of perceptions related to the performance of women in local councils, and the potential for women’s political participation in Palestine. There are gaps between men and women on the councils, but in general, these gaps appear small.