Hamas terrorist organization elected as majority party in Palestinian Government
The terrorist organization Hamas, a militant Islamic group, has won an overwhelming majority in Palestinian parliamentary elections. The election results shocked the 40-year ruling political reign by Fatah, the party of the late Yasser Arafat, as well as officials from the United States, who have invested heavily in the Middle East peace process.
Hanna Nasser, a Palestinian elections official reported that with 95% of the vote counted, Hamas had won 76 seats in the 132-member parliament, compared with 43 for Fatah.
President Bush and other world leaders called for Hamas to renounce violence and it's long-held rejection of Israel's existence.
"If your platform is the destruction of Israel, it means you're not a partner in peace, and we're interested in peace," Bush said. He said that the United States will not deal with Palestinian leaders who do not recognize Israel's right to exist.
Congress has signaled that the yearly $350 million in financial aid might cease.
"If Hamas is now the ruling power, I do not foresee any U.S. funds going to the
Palestinian territories," said Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, R-Fla., chairwoman of a House subcommittee on the Middle East.
Israeli leaders said there could be no relations with a group that has killed hundreds of Israelis in terrorist attacks and that seeks the destruction of Israel.
"Israel will continue to fight terrorism with a heavy hand, everywhere," said a statement from acting Prime Minister Ehud Olmert.
The campaign of Hamas focused on ridding the Palestinian Authority of Fatah corruption and boosting living standards. Its platform did not mention suicide bombers or the destruction of Israel, but the group's charter calls for Israel to be made an Islamic state for Palestinians.
Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas remains president (he is elected separately), but his Fatah party prime minister and Cabinet resigned. Abbas spoke with Hamas leaders on Thursday; it is uncertain whether Fatah members will join a Hamas government.
Based on an article from...
Matthew Gutman, USA TODAY, "Palestinians choose avowed enemy of Israel" USA TODAY, 27-29 January 2006, Sec. 1A
About Hamas and the voters
Hamas was founded in 1987 in Gaza. It's name is derived from the Arabic acronym for Islamic Resistance Movement. The terrorist organization has two focuses: eliminating the state of Israel and filling the social and educational needs of impoverished Palestinians.
In 1989, Hamas took up arms, killing several Israelis in shooting attacks. Israel responded by banning the group. By 1994, the group had graduated to bombing attacks.
When the Hamas founder, Sheik Ahmed Yassin, was assassinated by Israel in March 2004, the conflict escalated the Palestinian uprising that began in September 2000.
Israel says Hamas is responsible for launching 425 terrorist attacks since then, killing 377 Israelis and injuring more than 2,000.
Hamas' militancy is credited with pushing Israel to withdraw settlers and troops from Gaza and parts of the West Bank in September 2005, as a result of this violence.
Hamas came into Palestinian politics when it competed for a few offices in the December 2004 municipal elections.
In their overwhelming victory for majority control of the Palestinian Government, they capitalized on the reputation they earned for incorruptibility and good governance in the towns and cities they controlled after winning municipal elections. Their victory in Palestinian elections seemed less an endorsement of terrorism than a vote for an organizations that supporters hope will improve their lives.
Based on an article from...
Matthew Gutman, USA TODAY "Hamas voters fed up with Fatah" USA TODAY 27-29 January 2006, Sec. 6A
Abbas calls for new election, Hamas calls it a coup attempt - 12/17/2006
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas called for new elections in Palestine. Tensions between Hamas and Abbas' Fatah faction, and thousands of followers began fighting in the streets in the Gaza strip.
"I have decided to call for early presidential and parliamentary elections," Abbas said in a speech at his headquarters in the West Bank city of Ramallah. "Let us return to the people, so the people will have its say and the people will be the judge."
Failure of talks to form a more moderate governing coalition has led to Abbas preparing for a new election. Crippling sanctions imposed by Western donors to the economy of Palestine include that the government recognize Israel, renounce violence and accept previous Palestinian-Israeli agreements.
"At all times, my goal remains agreement on forming a national unity government ...to lift the siege on our people and get us out of this predicament," Abbas said.
The Hama refused an early vote, which would cut short the legislature's four-year term.
"The Palestinian government rejects this call for early elections and considers it a coup against Palestinian legitimacy and the will of the Palestinian people," the Hamas government spokesman said.
Foreign Minister Mahmoud Zahar of Hamas said that an early election would be "unconstitutional." The Palestinian Basic Law, which serves as a constitution, has no
provisions for early elections, and would require a presidential decree approved by the Hamas dominated parliament.
"Bypassing the decision of the Palestinian people---is unacceptable," Zahar told the Arab satellite channel Al-Jazeera. "The Palestinian people has already had its say."
Possibilities for election of the President of Palestine
Mahmoud Abbas, 71. Incumbent president from Fatah, elected to succeed Yasser Arafat after his death in 2005.
Marwan Barghouti, 47. Charismatic leader of Fatah's young guard. he is serving multiple life sentences in Israel on murder convictions related to Palestinian uprisings.
Ismail Haniyeh, 46. Current Palestinian prime minister and senior Hamas leader. He defers to Hamas' supreme chief, Khaled Mashaal, in Damascus.
Mohammed Dahlan, 45. Fatah lawmaker widely considered to be the most powerful figure in Gaza Strip.
Ahmed Qureia, 67. Commonly known as Abu Alaa, he is the former Palestinian prime minister from Fatah, and the key architect of the 1993 Oslo peace accords with Israel.
Mustafa Barghouti, 52. An independent lawmaker who heads the Palestinian National
Initiative with a small left-leaning group.
Based on an article from...
Joel Greenberg, Chicago Tribune "Abbas calls for new Palestinian election" The Spokesman-Review, December, 17 2006, Page A3.
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