Although the vote counting is only due to be completed by the end of the week, Hamas candidate Ismail Haniyeh announced this morning that Hamas had won a majority of seats in parliament. Hamas reportedly won 70 seats in the 132-seat parliament.
“In view of these results, Hamas will consult with President Mahmoud Abbas (Abu Mazen) on the nature of the political partnership between the parties in the future,” said Haniyeh.
PLO spokesmen did not deny reports that Hamas won the election. Voices in the PLO are now calling for “soul searching” in the movement, in view of the election results.
The Palestinian cabinet submitted its resignation this morning, following reports of Hamas’s victory in the parliamentary elections. Outgoing Prime Minister Ahmed Qureia (Abu Ala) said Hamas should form the next government. Qureia’s resignation is purely symbolic, since he did not stand for election and was not due to form the next government.
The central election committee in Ramallah said today 73% of registered voters had participated in the Palestinian elections in a democratic process. Senior Palestinian Authority officials expressed satisfaction at the high voter turnout and management of the democratic process.
The elections were held throughout the Palestinian Authority and in east Jerusalem, even though the latter has been annexed to Israel. Palestinian residents in east Jerusalem voted at six post offices in that part of the city. Their ballots will be sent to the central election committee.
Despite concerns, the election was fairly calm, with no reports of violence or disturbances in any part of the Palestinian Authority.
Published by Globes [online], Israel business news - www.globes.co.il - on January 26, 2006