Palestinians turned out in force for their second-ever general election on Wednesday, with Fatah facing an unprecedented challenge to its long grip on power from Hamas.
With security tight, a steady stream of voters cast their ballots throughout the day in the West Bank, Gaza Strip and east Jerusalem in an election whose outcome promises to have a profound impact on the Middle East peace process.
Organisers said 57,6% of the 1,35-million registered voters had cast their ballots by 2pm GMT, three hours before polls were to close.
Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas called the poll a decisive step on the road to independence, a view echoed by Israel’s acting leader, Ehud Olmert, who urged voters to shun ”extremism” — a reference to Hamas, which is contesting a parliamentary election for the first time.
The possibility of a Hamas win, or a strong enough showing to secure a seat in Cabinet, has prompted Israel to warn it will not deal with a government that includes a ”terrorist organisation”.
Peace prospects
After casting his ballot, Abbas said the exercise in democracy should strengthen the prospects of peace and pledged his readiness to resume negotiations with Israel.
”The Israelis should have no reason to be fearful, but rather pleased, as we are building a democracy which can serve as a base for peace between us.
”After the elections, I will form a new government and I am always ready for negotiations with the Israelis, although they must want them on their side.”
Hamas’s top candidate, Ismail Haniya, vowed that the militant movement will not disarm after entering Parliament.
”The Americans and the Europeans say to Hamas: either you have weapons or you enter the legislative council. We say [we will have] weapons and the legislative council. There is no contradiction between the two.”
Hamas, campaigning on a change and reform banner, has sought to cash in on disillusionment with Fatah over the stalled peace process, corruption and by claiming its fighters forced Israel to pull out of the Gaza Strip last summer.
Polling
In the volatile and impoverished territory, armed members of the security forces were out in force on the streets and posted on rooftops of polling stations as party activists waved the green flags of Hamas and Fatah’s yellow.
With separate queues for men and women, those wearing veils were led into the booths by female election officials to check their identities.
”We want things to improve,” said the elderly Abu Mohammed, leaning on a cane outside a Gaza City polling station. ”I support Hamas. Why would I vote for Fatah? They live in ivory towers and leave the people with nothing.”
But Mohammed Dahlan, Fatah’s strongman in the Gaza Strip, was confident of victory as he voted in his hometown of Khan Yunis.
”I’m sure Fatah will win more seats in Parliament than Hamas,” he said. ”Those who are in opposition usually have a better chance … but I think the Palestinian citizen’s feeling is for Fatah.”
Hamas
Fatah, founded by the late Yasser Arafat more than 40 years ago, faces a real threat of losing its majority in Parliament with polls showing Hamas is likely to run a close second.
Hamas refuses to recognise the Jewish state’s right to exist, has called for its destruction and carried out the most attacks in a five-year uprising.
Its leader in Gaza, Mahmud Zahar, said Hamas will be satisfied with an Israeli withdrawal from land captured in the 1967 Arab-Israeli war — but only as a first step.
”We will first seek to establish a Palestinian state on any land we can recuperate, but without giving up any part of historic Palestine” in the long term, referring to the land that today incorporates the state of Israel.
Israel initially refused to allow elections in east Jerusalem, occupied and then annexed in 1967, to protest Hamas’s participation. Although it later relented to allow voting in post offices, it refused to let Hamas campaign.
Israeli police kept a minimal presence outside the post offices, where supporters waved Palestinian flags and pictures of Arafat.
Voting overall passed off without any major incidents although three people were wounded as Hamas and Fatah supporters hurled stones at each other near Hebron.
The White House hailed the election as ”historic” and declined to restate past opposition to seeing Hamas win seats.
”It’s a historic and significant day for the Palestinian people. We strongly support the Palestinian people as they transition to a democratic state, and we support their efforts to build democratic institutions,” said spokesperson Scott McClellan. — AFP
