Hamas extends victory in Palestinian local polls
Hamas, committed to destroying Israel, appeared to profit from division in Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas's Fatah movement and gained an important boost ahead of a January parliamentary election from the latest West Bank polls.
Provisional results released on Friday by the electoral commission showed Hamas won control of the council in the West Bank city of Jenin following voting on Thursday. Hamas earlier won control of municipalities in Nablus and al-Bireh.
For all latest news, follow The Daily Star's Google News channel. Thousands of Hamas supporters celebrated in the Gaza Strip, chanting "God is greatest" and waving their green flag. Final official results are expected on Saturday. Hamas also made a strong showing in three earlier rounds of local voting.
Support for Hamas has grown at the expense of Fatah, long accused by Palestinians of corruption and incompetence while now struggling to heal a rift between an old guard and younger members.
Although Hamas has not been widely expected to win the January 25 poll outright, the disarray in Fatah could significantly strengthen Hamas's chances in the first parliamentary ballot in which it will participate.
That has stirred worries in Israel since Hamas opposes negotiations and has spearheaded a Palestinian uprising, though it has largely followed a 10-month-old truce.
"If Hamas were ever to dominate Palestinian politics, that would mean the end of the peace process," said Israeli Foreign Ministry spokesman Mark Regev.
Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon has ruled out talks with Abbas on Palestinian statehood unless he disarms factions like Hamas, a process that is meant to begin under a US-backed peace road map. Hamas refuses to disarm.
One Israeli was hurt in a shooting in the West Bank on Friday. There was no immediate claim of responsibility.
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