Hamas claims victory in Palestinian election
GAZA, Jan 26 (Reuters) - Hamas claimed victory on Thursday in the Palestinian parliamentary election, an upset win over President Mahmoud Abbas's Fatah faction that could reshape Middle East politics and jeopardise peacemaking with Israel.
"Hamas has won more than 70 seats in Gaza and the West Bank, which gives it more than 50 percent of the vote," said Ismail Haniyeh, a leader of the militant group dedicated to Israel's destruction.
Haniyeh told Reuters he based the numbers on initial ballot counts from Hamas representatives at polling stations.
A senior Fatah official said it appeared Hamas was on course to form the next government. A senior Hamas official held out the possibility of a power-sharing coalition with Fatah and other parties.
"We are convinced we will be partners with the other factions," the Hamas official said. "We will study the issue of forming a government after consultations with the Palestinian leadership."
Official results from Wednesday's vote were expected to emerge from about 10 a.m. (0800 GMT).
Three exit polls had forecast a slim Fatah victory, indicating that Hamas, listed as a terrorist organisation by Washington, was set to win at least 53 of the 132 seats against 58 for Fatah. Turnout was 78 percent of the 1.3 million voters.
Hamas, which carried out nearly 60 suicide bombings in Israel since a Palestinian uprising began in 2000, has capitalised on internal Fatah divisions and the long-dominant party's reputation for corruption and mismanagement.
"This is a victory of the Palestinian people who voted against the occupation (by Israel in the West Bank), who voted for resistance, who voted for a new political system based on political partnership," Haniyeh said.
Israel has said future peacemaking would be in jeopardy if Hamas took a role in government.
U.S. President George W. Bush said on Wednesday he would not deal with Hamas, which Washington regards as a terrorist group, unless it renounced its policy of seeking Israel's destruction.
WILL OF THE PEOPLE
The United States, main sponsor of an international "road map" for peace between Israel and the Palestinians, said it would accept the election results as a reflection of the will of the people but made clear Abbas should keep Hamas in opposition.
"A political party, in order to be viable, is one that professes peace, in my judgment, in order that it will keep the peace," Bush told the Wall Street Journal in an interview.
"And so you're getting a sense of how I'm going to deal with Hamas if they end up in positions of responsibility. And the answer is: 'Not until you renounce your desire to destroy Israel will we deal with you'."
Israel's acting Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, who took over from the ailing Ariel Sharon earlier this month, said: "We will not negotiate with a government that does not keep to its most basic commitment -- fighting terror."
Abbas, elected a year ago after the death of Yasser Arafat, the iconic first Palestinian president, said the Palestinian Authority was ready to resume long-stalled talks with Israel even if Hamas joined his government.
Hamas has largely respected a truce with Israel for nearly a year.
"We are approaching a new period and we hope that the international community will help us return to the negotiating table," said Abbas, welcoming the peaceful nature of the vote.
Abbas has voiced hopes that once Hamas enters parliament it might be prepared to relinquish its weapons.
Despite signals this week that it might be open to indirect talks with Israel, Hamas said on Wednesday it would not change its charter or give up its weapons but would consider joining a coalition government with Fatah.
Late on Wednesday, Gaza Strip and West Bank towns filled with the sound of car horns and bursts of gunfire poured into the night sky as Hamas and Fatah supporters claimed victory.
"Our choice is Islam and we want change as soon as possible," Hamas backer Nidal al-Jaberi said in Hebron.
A few streets away, a gunman, Mohammed Amr, said: "This result shows that Fatah will always be on top."
Voting was orderly despite weeks of armed chaos, notably in areas and more than 400 candidates running locally in the first parliamentary elections since 1996. About 900 foreign observers, led by former U.S. President Jimmy Carter, were present.
Israeli troops pulled back from West Bank population centres to avoid any accusations of interfering in the polls.
(Additional reporting by Nidal al-Mughrabi in Gaza, Allyn Fisher-Ilan, Jeffrey Heller, Megan Goldin and Tali Caspi in Jerusalem, Haitham al-Tamimi in Hebron and Saul Hudson in Washington)
"Hamas has won more than 70 seats in Gaza and the West Bank, which gives it more than 50 percent of the vote," said Ismail Haniyeh, a leader of the militant group dedicated to Israel's destruction.
Haniyeh told Reuters he based the numbers on initial ballot counts from Hamas representatives at polling stations.
A senior Fatah official said it appeared Hamas was on course to form the next government. A senior Hamas official held out the possibility of a power-sharing coalition with Fatah and other parties.
"We are convinced we will be partners with the other factions," the Hamas official said. "We will study the issue of forming a government after consultations with the Palestinian leadership."
Official results from Wednesday's vote were expected to emerge from about 10 a.m. (0800 GMT).
Three exit polls had forecast a slim Fatah victory, indicating that Hamas, listed as a terrorist organisation by Washington, was set to win at least 53 of the 132 seats against 58 for Fatah. Turnout was 78 percent of the 1.3 million voters.
Hamas, which carried out nearly 60 suicide bombings in Israel since a Palestinian uprising began in 2000, has capitalised on internal Fatah divisions and the long-dominant party's reputation for corruption and mismanagement.
"This is a victory of the Palestinian people who voted against the occupation (by Israel in the West Bank), who voted for resistance, who voted for a new political system based on political partnership," Haniyeh said.
Israel has said future peacemaking would be in jeopardy if Hamas took a role in government.
U.S. President George W. Bush said on Wednesday he would not deal with Hamas, which Washington regards as a terrorist group, unless it renounced its policy of seeking Israel's destruction.
WILL OF THE PEOPLE
The United States, main sponsor of an international "road map" for peace between Israel and the Palestinians, said it would accept the election results as a reflection of the will of the people but made clear Abbas should keep Hamas in opposition.
"A political party, in order to be viable, is one that professes peace, in my judgment, in order that it will keep the peace," Bush told the Wall Street Journal in an interview.
"And so you're getting a sense of how I'm going to deal with Hamas if they end up in positions of responsibility. And the answer is: 'Not until you renounce your desire to destroy Israel will we deal with you'."
Israel's acting Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, who took over from the ailing Ariel Sharon earlier this month, said: "We will not negotiate with a government that does not keep to its most basic commitment -- fighting terror."
Abbas, elected a year ago after the death of Yasser Arafat, the iconic first Palestinian president, said the Palestinian Authority was ready to resume long-stalled talks with Israel even if Hamas joined his government.
Hamas has largely respected a truce with Israel for nearly a year.
"We are approaching a new period and we hope that the international community will help us return to the negotiating table," said Abbas, welcoming the peaceful nature of the vote.
Abbas has voiced hopes that once Hamas enters parliament it might be prepared to relinquish its weapons.
Despite signals this week that it might be open to indirect talks with Israel, Hamas said on Wednesday it would not change its charter or give up its weapons but would consider joining a coalition government with Fatah.
Late on Wednesday, Gaza Strip and West Bank towns filled with the sound of car horns and bursts of gunfire poured into the night sky as Hamas and Fatah supporters claimed victory.
"Our choice is Islam and we want change as soon as possible," Hamas backer Nidal al-Jaberi said in Hebron.
A few streets away, a gunman, Mohammed Amr, said: "This result shows that Fatah will always be on top."
Voting was orderly despite weeks of armed chaos, notably in areas and more than 400 candidates running locally in the first parliamentary elections since 1996. About 900 foreign observers, led by former U.S. President Jimmy Carter, were present.
Israeli troops pulled back from West Bank population centres to avoid any accusations of interfering in the polls.
(Additional reporting by Nidal al-Mughrabi in Gaza, Allyn Fisher-Ilan, Jeffrey Heller, Megan Goldin and Tali Caspi in Jerusalem, Haitham al-Tamimi in Hebron and Saul Hudson in Washington)
posted by Marko at 1/26/2006 03:39:00 AM
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