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Will the Hamas do as Fatah has requested, and respect the court's ruling on the election? (AP)
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05/20
Haaretz |
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| By israelinsider staff and partners May 20, 2005 |
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The comments by Abdullah Franji, a Fatah leader in the Gaza Strip, were reported by Israel Radio.
The court decision issued Thursday called into question Hamas' victory in seven of 13 council races in the town of Beit Lahia and its capture of 12 of 13 seats on Bureij refugee camp's council.
The political leader of Hamas in the Gaza Strip, Mahmoud Zahar said at a press conference on Thursday that "these rulings are a plot that was born in the dark whose aim is to forge the will of the Palestinian people and rob Hamas of its achievements in local councils under the guise of a court ruling."
He also said that Hamas demands the panel of judges which called on re-elections be dismissed.
The latest court ruling echoed a court ruling on Tuesday throwing out returns in parts of the southern town of Rafah, where Hamas trounced Fatah in the May 5 elections.
"This could change the initial declared results," Abu Safiyah of the Supreme Committee for Local Election in Gaza told Reuters, adding that the ruling in Beit Lahia meant 2,817 eligible voters would have to recast ballots within 10 days.
Votes in five of 42 Beit Lahia balloting stations were invalidated after complaints of irregularities. In Bureij, voting results in 12 out of 31 polling stations were cancelled.
In Rafah, the court voiced results in 51 of 141 precincts after irregularities surfaced in voter registration lists.
International monitors said on election day they uncovered no serious irregularities. Hamas, while saying it accepted the court ruling, again accused Fatah leaders of pressuring judges to void results unfavorable to them.
Fatah officials praised the ruling and awaited a third decision in a central Gaza precinct where initial results also showed a Hamas sweep but drew Fatah complaints alleging ballot forgery by its Islamist rival.
Masri condemned Fatah accusations but urged a "restrained" response by his grassroots faction.
In the municipal voting, Fatah captured about 50 of 84 councils in Gaza and the West Bank. But preliminary results showed Hamas winning around 30, including larger towns such as Rafah and Qalqilyah in the West Bank.
Hamas, who spearheaded a Palestinian militant revolt in Israeli-occupied territory before a February cease-fire, entered electoral politics this year and is likely to pose a strong challenge to Fatah in a parliamentary vote set for July.
The Islamists have benefited from a public backlash over alleged corruption and infighting in Fatah. Increasing numbers of Palestinians have been drawn to Hamas' reputation for good organization, religious piety and charitable works.
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