Palestinians set vote timetable despite Hamas rejection

The Palestinian electoral commission announced Monday a calendar for delayed municipal elections, despite Gaza rulers Hamas rejecting them. The commission said on its website that voter registration would end on 25 February, while registration of candidates will take place for 10 days from March 28. The Palestinian Authority said last month that vote will be held on May 13th simultaneously in the Gaza Strip and in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, which the PA controls.
But the Islamist Hamas movement which runs Gaza has criticised the plans and said that the new timetable "strengthens divisions".