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Hamas wins absolute majority in Palestinian parliamentary polls

Atul Aneja

Prime Minister Ahmed Qurei resigns; Fatah decides not to join new Government

DUBAI: The Palestinian Islamic group, Hamas, has won a resounding victory at the parliamentary elections held on Wednesday, upsetting the Fatah, which has for decades symbolised Palestinian aspirations for an independent State.

In the results that have been announced, Hamas has won 76 seats, thereby securing an absolute majority in the 132-member parliament. The ruling Fatah has ended up with 43 seats.

Conceding defeat, Palestinian Prime Minister Ahmed Qurei submitted his resignation to President Mamoud Abbas, hours before elections results were announced.

Caretaker Cabinet

"This is the choice of the people. It should be respected," Mr. Qurei said. "If it's true, then the President should ask Hamas to form a new government." The Cabinet remained in office in a caretaker capacity.

Hamas has offered to form a government in partnership with Fatah, which will make a formal announcement on its position to the proposal later, Information Minister Nabeel Shaath said. However, senior Fatah leader Saeb Erekat had earlier said after meeting Mr. Abbas that his party had decided to sit in Opposition. "Hamas will be asked to form the new government," Mr. Erekat observed. "We in Fatah will not join them. We will be a loyal Opposition and rebuild the party." The Hamas leader in exile Khaled Mashaal had, during the day, called Mr. Abbas from Syria to discuss the outcome of the poll. "He stressed Hamas insists on a partnership with all the Palestinian factions, especially our brothers in Fatah," the group said on its website.

As indications of the poll results emerged, there was jubilation in the Hamas camp. In the Gaza Strip — the bastion of Hamas support — thousands of supporters poured out into the streets to savour the victory. "Mohammad Deif should be our Defence Minister," said one Hamas supporter, alluding to the Hamas military leader who heads Israel's hit list. Hamas activists were seen waving the group's green flags. "Congratulations and victory for Islam," some of them said as people embraced each other and distributed sweets.

Hamas has still not abandoned its call for the destruction of Israel and had spearheaded a campaign of suicide bombings that have targeted Israelis.

Israel silent

Israel has so far not commented on the outcome of the poll, but prospects of an early revival of peace talks with Palestinians have virtually disappeared following the Hamas success.

On Wednesday night, Israeli acting Prime Minister Ehud Olmert had stressed that Israel would not negotiate with Hamas.

The Hamas leader Mushir al-Masri has also emphasised that Hamas had no intention of holding peace talks with Israel. "Recognising Israel is not on the agenda either now", he said.

Meanwhile, U.S. President George W. Bush told Wall Street Journal on Wednesday that he would not deal with Hamas unless it renounced its position on the destruction of Israel.

European Union, the largest provider of aid to the Palestinians, said that it would work with any government that was "prepared to work by peaceful means."

U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan congratulated the Palestinian people on the elections, but asserted, "any group that wishes to participate in the democratic process should ultimately disarm."

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