Initial results: Strong showing for Hamas

Tight race: Initial results stemming from Ramallah showed Hamas leading Fatah by a slim margin in certain areas, sending thousands of Hamas supporters on street celebrations in the Gaza Strip, where the Islamic group registered a strong showing. Palestinian sources told Ynet that Hamas won most of the 24 seats for the Gaza area.

An exit poll conducted hours after the closure of ballots in the Palestinian parliamentary elections showed the ruling Fatah party and rival Hamas running neck-and-neck, but showed Chairman Mahmoud Abbas’ party slightly edging ahead of the Islamic group.

The poll, conducted by Bir Zeit University in Nablus, showed Hamas garnering 58 seats (39.5 percent), placing it second to Fatah, which secured 63 seats (46.7 percent).

Video: Reuters 

Some 800 voters were polled in 236 stations.

A second poll conducted by Palestinian pollster Khalil Shikaki showed similar results, with Fatah leading Hamas by five seats, with 58 (42 percent) to 53 (35 percent).

Shikaki said that according to the polls neither Hamas nor Fatah will win a majority in the Palestinian Legislative Council.

"This will give the small groups and the independents a big chance to decide (who forms a government) ... It is possible that Hamas theoretically has the chance to form the next government," he said.

Hamas won most seats in Gaza area (Photo: Reuters)

Abbas congratulates Palestinians

Buoyed by strong showing for Hamas in east Jerusalem, where the group vowed to Israel’s destruction is expected to win up to three of the six seats representing the city’s Arab population, leader Ismail Haniyeh said a victory for his party “is a victory for the Palestinian people.”

The Palestinian Authority wrapped up relatively smooth elections which drew some 77.7 percent of eligible voters. East Jerusalem witnessed the highest turnout, between 80 to 90 percent, prompting the Palestinian Elections Committee to extend voting until 9 p.m. An 81 percent turnout was registered in the Gaza Strip in comparison to 74 percent in the West Bank.

Abbas called for international assistance in reviving peace talks with Israel after the elections, expressing readiness to meet Acting Prime Minister Ehud Olmert.

He congratulated the Palestinians for participating in the democratic process, praising the PA’s success in reversing an Israeli decision to ban elections in Arab east Jerusalem.

Major streets in large West Bank cities were packed with Palestinians waving Hamas and Fatah flags.

With tensions running high ahead of final results expected Friday, Housing and Public Works Minister Mohammad Shtayyeh rushed to announce a hasty Fatah victory, saying Abbas’ party will be forming the next government.

A Fatah activist told Ynet that the ruling party faced a tough battle against rivals Hamas, and had it not been for intensive campaigning over the last two weeks the party would have suffered a crushing defeat.

'This is a democracy'

“We won only after going out to the streets over the last two weeks. It was not an easy fight because Hamas struck the religious chord, influencing people with the Koran,” he said as he stood at the Manara Square in Ramallah.

The Foreign Ministry said the elections went smoothly, saying its operation room intercepted no reports of order disruption from journalists or international observers. But Hamas and Fatah activists scuffled outside polling stations near Hebron. Hamas activists threw stones at their Fatah rivals, prompting Palestinian Authority security forces to separate between the sides.

Former Palestinian Prime Minister Ahmed Qureia cast his vote in Abu Dis near Jerusalem. The Fatah candidate hoped “that the minority will receive the approval of the majority,” adding that his party will support Hamas should it win the vote.

“This is a democracy and we will accept the elections result, he said.

A handful of people, including a policeman, were injured in the melee.