Hamas poised to gain ground in local elections

Palestinians voted for local governments in dozens of towns and villages across the West Bank and Gaza Strip today – a contest that is expected to boost the Islamic militant group Hamas and could foreshadow results of parliamentary elections in July.

The ruling Fatah party, plagued by allegations of corruption after 10 years in power, is increasingly concerned Hamas will rout it in local voting and in the national election in the summer.

Today’s vote is the third – and largest – round of municipal elections since December.

Some 2,500 candidates from Hamas, Fatah and independent lists were competing for 906 local council seats in 84 communities, including the major towns of Bethlehem and Qalqiliya in the West Bank, and Rafah in Gaza.

By early afternoon today, 45% of voters in the West Bank and 55% in Gaza had cast their ballots, election officials said, a good showing that was expected to rise further. The officials added that they received no reports of major disruptions.

The municipal campaigns were largely waged over local issues, such as clean government and better services, and analysts said clan loyalties also influence voting.

However, the voting also comes at a time of growing disappointment with Abbas. His main achievement – a truce with Israel – is showing signs of unravelling and he has few achievements to present to voters.

Elias Rishmawi, a leading council candidate in the village of Beit Sahour, just outside Bethlehem, said any decent showing by Hamas is a result of Fatah mismanagement and corruption.

He said Abbas has failed to forge an alliance with other factions to oppose Hamas and “emphasise the democratic, secular face of the Palestinian Authority”.

“This would be the only solution to minimise the effect of Hamas,” said Rishmawi, who is heading a list of the opposition party Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine.

Hamas remains sworn to Israel’s destruction despite agreeing to a temporary ceasefire along with several other militant groups in March. Its growing political power augurs poorly for a renewal of peace talks with Israel.

Two Palestinians were killed by Israeli army fire on Wednesday, in one of the deadliest incidents since the truce was declared in February, and Israel announced it is freezing the handover of West Bank towns until Palestinian police begin disarming militants in areas under their control.

Also today, the Israeli military closed the Karni cargo crossing between Israel and Gaza after receiving warnings that Palestinian militants were planning an attack. The crossing reopened about two hours later.

The municipal vote is about better services, “but on the other hand, it’s also Hamas competing against Fatah”, said Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat, a former local affairs minister.

In the Gaza refugee camp of Rafah, hardest-hit in Israeli-Palestinian fighting, Salma Abu Gazar, 51, said she voted for Hamas because she wants change.

“We want clean streets and new projects, like sewage treatment, and our destroyed homes to be rebuilt. I believe that Fatah will not do anything. They will monopolise everything like they have done before,” she said.

Her cousin, 42-year-old Rabiha, whose house was demolished by Israeli troops during the fighting, said she is still putting her faith in Fatah. “I believe that only the people who are in power, like Fatah, can build me a new house,” she said.

Hamas trounced Fatah in voting in 10 towns in Gaza in January, and grabbed ground in two dozen West Bank races a month earlier.

Abbas recently proposed to Hamas to delay the July parliament vote until the end of the year, in exchange for bringing the opposition group into his cabinet now, senior Hamas officials said today.

Hassan Yousef, a Hamas leader in the West Bank, said the group rejected the offer.

Today, hundreds of people lined up at the 13 polling stations in the northern West Bank town of Qalqiliya before they opened at 5am Irish time. Fifteen seats were in contention, with 45 candidates from Fatah, Hamas and two independent lists competing.

Although both major parties were actively campaigning, Hamas appeared to be better organised.

The Islamic party had a much stronger presence, with its supporters wearing green hats, displaying green flags and escorting elderly voters to the polls.

Hamas candidate Mohammed Afari predicted Hamas would take at least nine of the 15 seats.

Fatah candidate Jamal Abtali said he expected his party to make a clean sweep.

One of the Hamas candidates in Qalqiliya, Wajis Kawas, has been jailed by Israel since Israeli-Palestinian fighting began more than four years ago, and is considered a strong contender.

Fatma Aissa Zboun, a 57-year-old mother of nine, wouldn’t say who she was voting for, but said it wouldn’t be Hamas or Fatah. “Bethlehem needs everything,” she said. “There’s an occupation, no tourism, no development, no work.”

Under terms of the ceasefire, both sides were to halt violence, Israel would transfer five West Bank towns to Palestinian security control and free 900 prisoners, and Palestinian security would disarm fugitive militants in the towns reverting to its control.

Israel freed 500 prisoners and handed over two towns, Jericho and Tulkarem, but stopped the process, accusing the Palestinians of not keeping their end of the bargain by collecting weapons.

On Wednesday, Israeli Defence Minister Shaul Mofaz said he had frozen the transfer of the three remaining West Bank towns, including Qalqiliya.

The military intelligence chief, Zeevi-Farkash, told Israel Radio today Abbas has completed collecting weapons from wanted men in Jericho, and is working to collect weapons in Tulkarem.

He estimated Abbas wouldn’t go head-to-head with Hamas now in an effort to rein in militants, but would continue trying to work through discourse. Abbas, he said, is managing to maintain a fragile calm.

The army said today it has suspended the commander of a force involved in the killing of two Palestinians who threw rocks at troops guarding the barrier Israel is building to wall itself off from much of the West Bank.

The commander will be suspended from all operational activity until a full inquiry is concluded, the army said.