Fatah elections spur violence
IDF sources estimate violent tensions in Fatah primary elections across Gaza, West Bank Saturday were cause for attacks on Israel. Factions clash in Palestinian Authority over allegations of forged ballots; armed conflicts ensued, several civilians injured
Elections for the Fatah movement were held across the Gaza Strip and West Bank Saturday accompanied by violent clashes between the rivaling factions, which IDF sources estimate were the main cause for the rocket attacks on Israel.
The fighting was spurred by mutual accusations that ballots have been forged, and resulted in several voting stations being attacked
in the Hebron area.
In several spots in the city, and mainly in the vicinity of the neighboring town of Halhoul, voting stations were torched by al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades gunmen.
Dozens of armed activists announced that they refuse to recognize the election results, which they claimed were forged, and demanded the elections be held once again. During the rioting, gunmen shot in the air and were joined by hundreds of civilians who protested the elections' outcome.
Several bystanders and policemen were injured during the clash.
A tense and violent day swept over Rafah, Ramallah, Jenin and Nablus as well. Some ballot boxes were stolen, and others set on fire, while in some places shots were fired at the voting stations. Several Palestinians were wounded during the incidents.
Fatah members contest elections' results
As a result of the rioting, the Fatah's Elections Committee was forced to publish a number of contradicting statements.
While the committee initially reported that former PA National Security Advisor Jibril Rajoub won elections in Hebron followed by former Minister Nabil
Amro, the committee later issued a statement that "the results were not final," and that "the ballots in some voting station had not yet been counted."
The statements clouded the election'results and cast uncertainty over the primaries' overall outcome.
Prime Minister Ahmed Qureia said he was unsure whether the results would determine Fatah's list for parliamentary elections. However, the PM guaranteed that the movement's leadership would take the results into account.
Queria's words reveal the overwhelming tension within the Fatah's old guard over the success of the organization's younger generation in recent elections.
