International   

Abbas hints at role for Hamas in Government

Atul Aneja

Palestinians vote for Parliament after 10 years

DUBAI: After a gap of nearly 10 years, Palestinians have voted for a new Parliament, in which the Islamic grouping, Hamas, is likely to pose a serious challenge to the ruling Fatah party.

Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas has said that he was willing to negotiate a peace deal with Israel even if the Hamas were to join his government following the elections. "We are partners with the Israelis. They don't have the right to choose their partner. But if they are seeking a Palestinian partner, this partner exists," he said.

Israel has so far opposed a dialogue that involves Hamas, which has not abandoned its call for the destruction of the state of Israel.

Palestinian Prime Minister Ahmed Qurei also indicated that Fatah was ready to accommodate Hamas in the political mainstream, even if it acquires an upper hand during these elections.

"I hope that the minority will accept the decisions of the majority," Mr. Qurei said after voting in the Jerusalem suburb of Abu Dis.

Slight edge for Fatah

"If Hamas wins, they will win and we will stand behind them. This is democracy and we accept the results of the elections." Opinion polls showed that the Fatah party had only a slight edge, raising the prospects of the formation of a coalition government with Hamas as its partner.

Nearly 1.5 million Palestinians were eligible to vote at about 1,000 centres in the West Bank and Gaza Strip.

In East Jerusalem, where there were 100,000 Palestinian registered voters, but only 6,300 residents were allowed to cast their ballots inside the city, while the rest were told to vote outside the city limits.

Polls opened at 7 a.m. local time and are were closed at 7 p.m. Initial results were expected later in the evening. The Palestinian electorate could choose from 11 party lists, and more than 400 candidates were in the race for the 132-member Parliament.

All Palestinian factions, with the exception of Islamic Jihad participated in the polls. Former U.S. President Jimmy Carter led a 900-member foreign observers team, to monitor the vote.

On Tuesday, Mr. Abbas urged Palestinians to vote in strength so that "a new and suitable leadership" could emerge.

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Stories in this Section

Telegraph loses case against MP
No fixed agenda for talks: Colombo
Abbas hints at role for Hamas in Government
Do not use charity for conversion: Pope
Europe in grip of deadly freeze
Cell phone scams on the rise
Alito nomination approved
Smallest vertebrate found
Indian photographer sues New York police

Copyright © 2006, The Hindu. Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu