RAMALLAH — The Islamic opposition has won legislative elections and
is preparing to take over the Palestinian Authority.
Hamas was said to have won between 70 and 75 seats in the 132-member
Palestinian Legislative Council. Hamas easily defeated the ruling Fatah
movement, which won 45 seats.
"It is true that Hamas has obtained a majority, and I have resigned to
enable President Abbas to choose a new prime minister," Prime Minister Ahmed
Qurei said.
The Hamas achievment gives the Islamic movement a clear majority of the
PLC and the right to decide on any government. Officials said Hamas could
determine everything from legislation, formation of a Cabinet, policy and
the future of PA Chairman Mahmoud Abbas.
"Irrespective of the results of the elections, I think the Palestinians
have entered a new era and new political life," PA senior negotiator Saeb
Erekat, who won a PLC seat, said on Thursday.
On Thursday, Fatah officials, who blamed Israel for the Hamas victory,
conceded defeat. They said Fatah hopes to establish a national unity
government with Hamas.
"Fatah must engage in soul-searching," Fatah leader Hussein Al Sheik
said. "Fatah went to these elections with empty hands and I mean
politically. There was corruption in the PA. The Palestinian public went to
settle scores with Fatah."
The Central Election Commission said voter turnout was a record 77.7
percent of 1.3 million eligible voters. The turnout was higher than in the
first PLC elections in 1996.
The CEC has not yet announced official results. Officials reported
delays in the counting of the vote and that results could be released on
late Thursday.
For his part, Abbas insisted that the PLC elections would not change PA
policy toward Israel. Abbas met Fatah leaders and then said he would ask
Hamas to form the next government.
"We are ready to negotiate," Abbas said. "We are partners with the
Israelis. They don't have the right to choose their partner. But if they are
seeking a Palestinian partner, this partner exists."
Both Israel and the United States said they would not engage with a
Hamas government. But both countries have said they would accept Hamas
should it renounce violence.
For its part, Hamas reiterated its aim to destroy Israel. On Thursday,
Hamas leader Mahmoud Zahar said Hamas would continue to lead the Palestinian
war against the Jewish state, which he predicted would lead to additional
concessions by the Israeli government.
Predictions of a bloody Election Day did not materialize. Several
incidents of gunfire were reported around polling stations. But nobody was
seriously injured.
But officials said they doubted that Fatah would allow Hamas to take
over the PA, particularly its security forces. Some of them envisioned a
scenario in which Abbas would resign and Fatah would battle Hamas forces for
control of the Gaza Strip.
"All options are open," Erekat, a Fatah leader, said.
Ziyad Abu Ziyad, an independent candidate who was running in the
Jerusalem area, said Hamas would not turn into a political party. He said
Hamas would seek to control PA security services and make them part of a
Palestinian army.
"If they are in the government, then all of the PA forces will be their
[Hamas] militia," Abu Ziyad told Israel Radio. "They will have everything."