Palestinians choose successor to Arafat

Palestinians held their first presidential election in nine years today, choosing a successor to Yasser Arafat in a vote many across the world hoped would usher in a moderate leadership and revitalise the Middle East peace process.

Mahmoud Abbas, candidate of Arafat’s ruling Fatah movement, was expected to win easily. However, he was struggling to capture a clear mandate to resume peace talks with Israel and reform the corruption-riddled Palestinian Authority.

By noon, only about 30% of 1.8 million voters had cast their ballots, and the Central Election Commission decided to keep polls open for an additional two hours, until 9pm (7pm Irish time).

One election official said the panel had come under heavy pressure from Abbas’ Fatah movement to keep polls open longer, amid growing concern that a low turnout could strengthen Abbas’ challenger, Mustafa Barghouti, an independent.

Results of two exit polls were to be announced shortly after polls close.

Voting went relatively smoothly.

Cabinet minister Saeb Erekat said the Palestinians serve as an example to the Arab world, noting that seven candidates are competing. “This is a message to President Bush, to the rest of the world, that the problem we have here is not the kind of system we have, it’s not reform, it’s the Israeli occupation,” Erekat said.

Bush has said a resumption of Israeli-Palestinian peace talks must be accompanied by sweeping Palestinian government reform. US Secretary of State Colin Powell, speaking on CNN, praised the vote as a “moment of opportunity for both sides”.

Visiting US Senator John Kerry, who challenged Bush in the 2004 US election, met with candidates in the West Bank. ”We’re here because we have very, very high hopes for an election that can help move the peace process forward,” he said.

Israel said it is ready to meet with Abbas after the election, offering to release Palestinian prisoners if he can halt rocket attacks on Israeli communities.

Polls opened at 7am (5am Irish time) across the West Bank, Gaza Strip and east Jerusalem. Voters were slow to arrive, and later election officials simplified procedures, allowing voters to cast ballots in any of more than 1,000 locations, rather than where they registered.

This enabled thousands of members of the Palestinian security services - likely Abbas supporters – to cast ballots where they serve, rather than having to travel to their hometowns.

Abbas, accompanied by his family, voted at Arafat’s former headquarters in Ramallah. “The election is going well and that indicates that the Palestinian people are heading toward democracy,” he said.

According to opinion polls, Abbas holds a clear lead over his leading challenger, Barghouti. Five other candidates are running.

Abbas needs a strong showing – analysts say perhaps up to two-thirds of the vote – to deal effectively with both militants and Israel. Recent polls forecast Abbas getting anywhere from 52 % to 65 %.

Abbas has said his main goal is the same as Arafat’s: an end to Israeli occupation and a Palestinian state in the West Bank and Gaza Strip, with east Jerusalem as its capital.

Abbas faces a difficult balancing act. He is likely to face resistance from militants intent on continuing attacks on Israel. On the other hand, he is under heavy pressure from Israel to crack down on the militants.

“After the elections, we want to see ... a strategic decision to fight the terror and incitement,” Israeli Foreign Minister Silvan Shalom told Israel Radio.

Abbas has so far resisted calls for a crackdown. Instead, he hopes to persuade militants to halt their attacks on Israel.

Abbas must also deal with the Islamic militant group Hamas, the largest opposition group, which boycotted Sunday’s election.

An Israeli release of Palestinian prisoners – a top priority for Abbas – would give him a boost in his dealings with militants.

Israel holds an estimated 7,000 Palestinian prisoners. It released 159 prisoners last month, but Palestinians dismissed the gesture as insufficient.

The Israeli army eased travel restrictions and took other measures in Palestinian areas to facilitate today’s election.

Hundreds of international observers from Europe, Japan and the United States were also on hand, including former US President Jimmy Carter and former French premier Michel Rocard.