... because only Jews get to vote in the West Bank.

tend to disbelieve the central government, which seems too far and detached from their daily lives. They do, however, believe that change on the local level is possible. In smaller towns, they happen to know the candidates personally. Large parties tend to make a big mistake by underestimating the importance of local elections.

Steve Benassi, that's because the Palestinians living in the West Bank are not citizens of Israel. Can't vote in a country in which you are not a citizen. The West Bank Palestinians vote in elections for the Palestinian National Authority. At least they would, if the Palestinian Authority would ever hold elections (they keep scheduling them, then canceling them). The Gazan Palestinians don't even have this illusion. Hamas took over in a what amounts to a coup. No elections there whatsoever.