Fatah survives Hamas challenge
Mahmoud Abbas’ ruling Fatah movement wins in most municipalities; Hamas boasts impressive showing
Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas' ruling Fatah movement came out ahead in the Palestinian municipal election despite a strong showing by the Hamas, final results showed on Friday.
The Palestinian Election Committee initially said Fatah won control of 52 of 84 municipal councils across the West Bank and Gaza Strip, with Hamas winning 24.
However, later it was reported the Hamas scored a victory in the West Bank town of Qalqiliya and in the town of Rafah, in the Gaza Strip.
The final tally showed the Fatah movement won in 51 municipalities, while the Hamas won in 28, Palestinian sources told Ynet.
Independent and left-wing candidates won control of another five councils.
In the West Bank, the Fatah won mostly in urban areas, with the Hamas scoring most of its victories in rural regions.
Hamas questions results
Senior Fatah figures said the results show the movement enjoys wide popular support and is still the most important and powerful faction among Palestinians.
However, Senior Hamas figure Hassan Yousef said the group does not believe the initial results and various polls reflect the true picture, charging the available data is deceiving and false.
“The data we received from our representatives in the various areas do not match the reports,” he said, and pointed to reports of illegal armed gang activity, including what he said was the theft of a ballot box by Fatah members in the Ramallah region.
Meanwhile, a Hamas spokesman said the terror group has figures indicating it has won 38 out of the 74 municipalities where it fielded candidates.
Fatah did well in recent student elections
Political analysts said Fatah had fought back by stepping up internal reforms aimed at giving a younger generation of activists a stronger voice in the mainstream faction.
It did well in recent student elections in several Palestinian universities and fielded reformist candidates for the municipal vote.
The election came against the backdrop of a fragile lull in Israeli-Palestinian violence that has raised hopes of reviving Middle East peacemaking following more than four years of violence.
