The Quota Has Opened the Door.. and the Real Authority is Behind Closed Doors

Formal Management of the Scene

When I reflect on the presence of Palestinian women in municipal elections, I always find myself facing a complex equation. On the one hand, there is a legal system that shows formal support for the presence of women through quotas; on the other hand, there is a social and political structure that still creates the ceiling that women are allowed to approach, but not exceed.

"When women are allowed to run but not to influence, this is not empowerment but a formal management of the scene."

Participation Measured in Numbers but Understood in Context

It is true that the representation rate of women in municipal councils has improved over the past years compared to the situation two decades ago, but these numbers have not yet translated into real participation in decision-making circles. In many local bodies, women's membership is treated as a numerical complement to the list, not as a political actor with an impact. Here arises the fundamental question: does the presence of women on electoral lists reflect a conviction in equality and democracy, or is it a forced response to a legal quota?

The quota itself is not the problem, but rather how it is utilized. It is a tool, but it does not create will.

Women Between Two Thresholds - Public Acceptance and Party Dominance

Between social pressures and party structures, women move within a narrow space; on one hand, the traditional view still weighs down women's presence in the public sphere, imposing double standards on them: women must be "acceptable", "suitable", and "friendly" without disturbing the system. For men, it is enough to just be "present".

Within parties and factions, decisions are often male-dominated in structure and practice, even when women are included in the lists. Women enter the lists, but not necessarily the centers of decision-making within the list itself. In some cases, women are used as a symbolic image called upon when needed, rather than as full partners in shaping the electoral program or making municipal decisions.

"The presence of women in councils is a real test of the parties' will before it is a test for the ballot boxes."

The Experience of Elected Women - A Service Area or a Sphere of Authority?

Unfortunately, many elected women are pushed towards files traditionally viewed as "feminine" such as education, children, and social activities... while major files like spatial planning, tenders, engineering, and budgets remain areas reserved for men. This unspoken division between "services" and "authorities" reproduces the same hierarchy that women fight against at every level of public work.

Personal and Political Challenges

The level of pressure faced by women candidates cannot be ignored, as there are campaigns doubting their competence even before they take a single step. Psychological exhaustion between private life and public work. A constant struggle to prove oneself within a local council dominated by male thought. In addition to the general political environment that restricts any democratic practice in Palestine for both men and women.

"The challenge today is not to include women in the lists, but to ensure that the decision-making table is wide enough for their real contributions."

Despite this, Palestinian women have proven a high ability to manage crises, read the needs of the community, and work in intolerable conditions.

The Responsibility is Not Solely on Women

Enhancing women's participation in municipal councils is not only the responsibility of the women candidates but of the entire system. Laws must transform from texts into executive tools that protect elected women. Parties are required to move from "decorating lists" to "distributing power". Municipal councils must provide a professional work environment free from political bullying. Society must redefine the image of leadership so that it is not restricted to masculine standards.

Women do not require space in elections... but rather space in the decisions that change people's lives."

Towards a Deeper Feminine Participation

We are not seeking numerical increases in the number of women in councils; what we are seeking is women's ability to boldly and politically consciously move planning, economy, services, and public spaces. There is no meaning to a seat from which its owner is sidelined after winning; participation is not a number... but rather influence and impact. We seek a female presence that rearranges municipal priorities to become more just and inclusive.

Women do not want a battle of representation; they want a battle of influence and change."

The participation of women in municipal elections in Palestine is not just a battle for presence, but a battle for political legitimacy, authority, and a new narrative about who has the right to lead society. The presence of women in these councils is not a democratic luxury, but a social and economic development necessity that cannot be achieved without breaking the boundaries imposed on women in the name of tradition, party, or politics.
Palestinian women are ready.

And the real question is: Is the entire system ready for them?