RAMALLAH — Palestinian police who voted for Hamas have been arrested
by the Palestinian Authority.
Hamas said at least five PA officers were arrested in the Tulkarm area
of the West Bank. The Islamic movement said the police officers were said to
have voted for Hamas in elections for the Palestinian Legislative Council
elections.
"They were found not to have voted for Fatah and were arrested and
questioned," a Hamas spokesman said. "After several hours, they were
released."
On Monday, more than 60,000 PA officers completed voting for the PLC, Middle East Newsline reported.
The rest of the voters in the PA were scheduled to cast their ballots on
Jan. 25.
"God created people to be free," Hamas said in a message to the PA. "Why
do you treat them as your slaves?"
[On Tuesday, Israeli troops captured a leading Hamas operative in the
West Bank city of Ramallah. The operative was said to have planned the
killing of an Israeli merchant in 2005.]
Palestinian sources said Fatah has employed PA security agencies for the
campaign by the ruling movement. The sources said Fatah candidates were
using vehicles of PA police to transport activists.
No results were announced for the vote by PA officers. But Palestinian
sources said Hamas has succeeded in persuading up to 20 percent of officers
to vote for the Islamic opposition.
The Iranian-sponsored Islamic Jihad has not backed any candidates. On
Monday, Jihad called for a boycott of PLC elections.
For its part, the Interior Ministry said Hamas operatives have sought to
intimidate officials at polling stations. The ministry said that in one
incident a Hamas member arrived at a polling station with a gun and hand
grenade.
Interior Minister Nasser Yusef said insurgency groups would be banned
from guarding the polls during PLC elections. Yusef said only PA security
forces would be authorized to be in and around polling stations.
"No Palestinian gunman will be allowed to get close to voting stations,
even if the gunman wants to cast his vote or is a bodyguard of a political
or military figure," Yusef said.
