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Palestinian Elections: Which Fatah Won?

(Gatestone Institute) Khaled Abu Toameh - The Oct. 20 local elections in the West Bank were anything but a victory for Fatah. Boycotted by Hamas, this was an election where Abbas' Fatah leadership mainly competed with Fatah candidates who decided to run on an independent ticket. In the end, the Fatah "rebels" scored major victories in important cities, such as Jenin, Nablus and Ramallah, as well as many villages. For decades, Abbas and his veteran loyalists in Fatah have blocked the emergence of fresh and younger leaders - something that has seriously affected Fatah's credibility. Even in places where Abbas' candidates won, the vote was on the basis of clan affiliation. Perhaps most worrying for Abbas is the fact that a large number of his policemen and security officers voted for the dissident Fatah candidates who ran against the PA's nominees. In the wake of the local elections, it has become obvious that Abbas does not have a mandate to embark on any significant political move, such as applying for membership for a Palestinian state in the UN.
2012-10-31 00:00:00
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