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Events on Saturday 20 January 1996 1
1996Yasser Arafat Elected President of the Palestinian AuthorityFirst Palestinian presidential election held in the West Bank and GazaYasser Arafat was elected President of the newly formed Palestinian Authority in the first Palestinian presidential election, held in the West Bank and Gaza Strip under the Oslo Accords framework. He won with an overwhelming majority against a single opponent. The vote also elected the first Palestinian Legislative Council.