GAZA CITY – The Islamic opposition has won a major victory in
municipal elections in the Gaza Strip.
In the first demonstration of popular support, Hamas swept seven out of
10 elections in the Gaza Strip held last week. Palestinian sources said
Hamas won 78 of out of 118 seats contested in Gaza municipalities.
The ruling Fatah movement headed by Palestinian Authority Chairman
Mahmoud Abbas won 38 out of 118 seats, the sources said. They said Abbas's
defeat was the result of an intense Hamas campaign to get out the vote for
the Jan. 27 municipal elections, in contrast to the poor turnout for the
elections for PA chairman on Jan. 9.
"Our people have a consensus on the choice of jihad and resistance, and
the election has underscored that concept," Hamas spokesman Muhir Masri
said.
The sources said the Hamas victory could undermine Abbas's plan to end
insurgency attacks against Israel and confiscate illegal weapons. Hamas and
Islamic Jihad have rejected the confiscation of their weapons although they
have not openly challenged PA security forces.
On Saturday, Palestinian sources said that Abbas will meet Israeli Prime
Minister Ariel Sharon during the second week in February. Following the
meeting, Israel would transfer security control of parts of the West Bank to
the PA, the official said.
Earlier, Israel announced that it was ending all offensive operations in
the Gaza Strip after 2,000 Palestinian security forces were deployed in the
southern Gaza Strip.