Security officer casts ballot in Nablus
Photo: AFP
Tensions hinder Fatah primaries in Gaza
Primary elections of Fatah movement in Gaza strip pushed back due to tensions between candidates, fear of violent eruptions
The primary elections of the Fatah movement in the Gaza strip scheduled to be held Friday, were postponed due to violent tensions between the candidates and their supporters.
The elections were consequently opened only in the West Bank, where Fatah members have started casting their ballots in the primaries that will determine what movement leaders will represent the Fatah in the Palestinian Authority general elections.
For the first time since the movement's inception and since the Oslo accord, the Fatah representatives will be elected in a democratic process, and not appointed by the movement's leadership as was done in 1996.
Attempt were made in the past several days to postpone the elections, after concerns arose that incidents and clashes related to the elections may damage the movement's public image. The decision to push back the vote in the strip was taken on Thursday.
Meanwhile, the primaries take place amid growing concerns that the general elections, set to be held on January 25th, will also be postponed, this despite a presidential decree published by Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas recently, which states that the elections will be held as planned.
