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Hamas' Victory in Municipal Elections

(Jaffee Center for Strategic Studies-Tel Aviv University) Meir Litvak - * Hamas' sweeping gains in the fourth round of the Palestinian Authority (PA) municipal elections, held on December 16, completed its evolution as the dominant faction in local politics, with significant ramifications for national Palestinian politics as well. Over 1,000,000 Palestinians now live in municipalities governed by Hamas, compared with about 700,000 in municipalities controlled by the hitherto dominant Palestinian movement, Fatah. This accomplishment may serve as a prelude to a Hamas victory, or at least a very great success, in the PA parliamentary elections scheduled for January 2006. * The victory of Hamas is as much a reflection of the crisis and disintegration of Fatah as of the waxing strength of Hamas. A corollary to this has been growing religiosity in Palestinian society, demonstrated by increasing mosque attendance, the rise in veiling among women, and Fatah's adoption of a religious discourse. The unilateral Israeli withdrawal from the Gaza Strip, which most Palestinians attribute to Hamas' military campaign, also helped boost Hamas' fortunes. * Hamas focused its municipal campaign on socio-economic issues and the fight against corruption, and its candidates enjoyed local prestige as heads of its welfare and educational institutions. Fatah had little to offer voters on these issues because it has always lacked a social agenda, subordinating it to the national struggle. Reflecting these differences, Hamas lists carried the words "Reform" and "Change," while Fatah's lists were named "The Martyrs." * The growing power of Hamas will undoubtedly further complicate the already difficult task of advancing a political solution to the Palestinian-Israeli conflict. Hamas has expressed its intention to emulate Hizballah, which operates as a legitimate political party while keeping its military-terrorist apparatus against Israel intact and employing it whenever useful. Thus, Hamas has insisted that it will refuse to disarm or cease its attacks on Israeli targets even after it enters the Palestinian parliament. * A few Hamas leaders in the West Bank have voiced a readiness to consider a more pragmatic line, but so far they are in the minority; the majority still opposes any negotiations for peace. The writer is Senior Research Fellow at the Moshe Dayan Center for Middle Eastern and African Studies, Tel Aviv University.
2005-12-30 00:00:00
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