Historical Background

Municipal Council Elections during the British and Jordanian Periods

During the British and Jordanian Periods, elections of the Municipal Council were held according to the following rules:

First : The Council consists of seven members according to the number of quarters.

Second : It was agreed later to add an eighth member who should belong alternatively to one of the two Quarters, the Farahiyyah and the Najajrah.

Third : If the winner of the Presidency was from the Latin community, his deputy should be Greek Orthodox and vice versa.

Fourth : In 1952 the Syriac Quarter was considered the eighth quarter in the town represented by a ninth member in the Municipal Council.

Fifth : In 1953 the Jordanian Government approved the appointment of Council members from the Ta'amrah residing in the town and from the refugees residing in the town. Hence the number of the Bethlehem Municipal Council became eleven.

Sixth : In 1967 the Israeli authorities ruled that the Ta'amrah and refugee members should be elected not appointed.

Seventh : In 1976 the Municipalities Law was amended. Women were given the right to vote and to be nominated in accordance with a military order issued by the occupation authorities.

Eighth: The right to vote is open to those who pay a property tax to the Municipality exceeding one Jordanian Dinar. It was also stipulated that they should be residing inside the Municipal boundaries, or should be in possession of a licence of Trade and Industry from the Municipality and should be over twenty-one years of age.

The right of nomination is open for everyone who is over 25, having good conduct and reputation. He should not be illiterate nor a Municipal employee, and he should not be a candidate for another Council .

Bethlehem is among the first towns in Palestine to have a municipal council. The elections to this Council took place for the first time in 1876. In that year, the seven quarters of Bethlehem ('Anatrah, Farahiyyah, al-Najajrah al-Qawawseh, al-Fawaghreh, al-Tarajmah, al-Hraizat and the Syriac) elected the first local council which consisted of seven persons representing all quarters. According to the Turkish Government Constitution of that period, Bethlehem was considered a small town not a city. The following is a list of Presidents and vice Presidents of the first councils:

After some time, and due to the increase in population, prosperity, historical and religious importance of Bethlehem , the Turkish Government reclassified the town as a city. Its Local Council was thus transformed into a Municipal Council. From that date, such councils succeeded one another and took over the responsibility of the town. 

The Names of former Mayors of Bethlehem Municipal Councils:

•  Hanna Mansur 1895 - 1915.

•  Salim 'Issa Al-Batarsah 1916 - 1917.

•  Salih Giries Jaqaman 1917 - 1921.

•  Musa Qattan 1921-1925.

•  Nicola 'Atallah Shahin 1929-1933.

•  Hanna Ibrahim Miladah 1936

•  Hanna Issa al-Qawwas 1936-1946.

•  Isa Baseel Bandak 1946-1951.

•  Elias Issa Bandak 1951-1952.

•  'Afif Salim Batarsah 1952-1953.

•  Elias 'Issa Bandak 1953-1957.

•  A Government Committee was appointed on 21/10/1957. George Mansour was appointed acting President of the Municipal Committee on 1/9/1958

•  Mr. Ayyub Musallam. 1958-1962.

•  A Government Committee was appointed on 17/10/1962.

•  Elias 'Issa Bandak. 1963-197.2

•  Elias Mitri Freij 1972-1997

•  Hanna J. Nasser 1997-2005

•  Dr. Victor Batarseh 2005 - Present

The latest Bethlehem Municipal council's elections were held in April 1976.  It is worth mentioning that at this time members were not elected from specific quarters, but on majority vote. Membership was won by the following: Elias Mitri Freij (Mayor), George Hazbun, Hanna Nasir, Judah Zarzar, Nasri Qanawati, Ya'qub Nicola Al-'Ali, Elias Juha, Fuad 'Issa 'Ali , Jiryis Katlu and Kamel  Kamil.