Palestinian elections

[shamrock_uk]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/mid...st/4158517.stm

Problems beset Palestinian poll Early problems have hit the Palestinian election, with hundreds of people prevented from voting at a major polling station in Jerusalem. Palestinians told the BBC that Israeli officials were turning voters away, even though they had the correct forms. Former US President Jimmy Carter, who was monitoring the poll at the station, said it was not going well. Ex-Prime Minister Mahmoud Abbas is widely expected to be chosen as the successor to the late Yasser Arafat. Opinions polls have given Mr Abbas, leader of the main Fatah party, a clear lead over the pro-democracy activist Mustafa Barghouti, who is standing as an independent, and five other candidates. But analysts say Mr Abbas would need a strong win - perhaps up to two-thirds of the vote - to go forward with his agenda. Palestinian militant group Hamas has called for a boycott of the vote. Earlier, casting his vote at the West Bank compound in Ramallah where Arafat is buried, Mr Abbas said the vote was taking place in a "marvellous" fashion. "It is an illustration of how the Palestinian people aspire to democracy," he said. Many voters are having to make their way past Israeli checkpoints and road blocks to reach polling stations in the West Bank and Gaza Strip. Voting is reported to be brisk, after a slow start. The polls close at 1900 (1700 GMT), with the final result expected on Monday. About 1.1 million Palestinians have registered to vote in their first presidential election since 1996. Roadblocks Israel says it has done what it can to ease travel restrictions for the vote, including removing a number of temporary roadblocks. But some Palestinians say they have not gone far enough. ELECTION FACTS Candidates: Mahmoud Abbas (Fatah), Mustafa Barghouti, Tayser Khalid (DFLP), Bassam al-Salhi (leftist), Sayyed Baraka Abdul Karim Shubayr, and Abdul Halim Ashqar Hamas is boycotting vote Voting at 3,000 polling stations between 0500 and 1700 GMT 1.8 million eligible voters More than 500 international observers and thousands of local monitors Official result on 10 January "Major checkpoints are still in place, but there was never an intent to remove them," an Israeli army spokesman said. "It's obvious they must stay in place for security reasons. Terrorist threats still have to be dealt with." Some Palestinians say they are excited at the chance to pick their leader in Sunday's vote, reports the BBC's James Reynolds in Jerusalem. But others say the ballot will make little difference to their lives. Observer teams led by Mr Carter and former French Prime Minister Michel Rocard are touring checkpoints to see whether restrictions are being eased. But Mr Rocard, who heads the European Union election's monitoring mission, told the BBC he did not expect any major problems. Mr Abbas, also known as Abu Mazen, has said he will ask current Prime Minister Ahmed Qurei to form a new government if he wins the election. He has also said there is no option but to work with Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon and "do our best to convince him of Palestinian rights". Both Mr Abbas and Mr Barghouti are regarded as moderates, and both have used the campaign to criticise aspects of the four-year-old Palestinian uprising, or intifada. On the eve of voting, acting President Rawhi Fattuh announced that Palestinian parliamentary elections would be held on 17 July. Story from BBC NEWS: http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/1/h...st/4158517.stm Published: 2005/01/09 10:00:30 GMT © BBC MMV

[ 01-09-2005, 07:57 PM: Message edited by: shamrock_uk ]

[shamrock_uk]

Polling hours extended to cope with heavy turnout and disruption at the Israeli-run polling station

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/mid...st/4158517.stm

Palestinians extend voting hours The Palestinian election to choose a successor to the late leader Yasser Arafat has been extended by two hours. Palestinian election officials said polling would now close at 1900 GMT. They said there were problems with heavy turnout, registration lists and the turning away of hundreds of voters from a polling station in Jerusalem. The favourite to win is ex-Prime Minister Mahmoud Abbas, who is calling for peace talks and an end to the armed Palestinian uprising. Voting was said to be brisk in Gaza and the West Bank, but there were problems at a big Israeli-run polling station in East Jerusalem. The BBC's Paul Wood reported chaotic scenes there. These elections are... a momentous move towards political reform and modern democracy Watan, Gaza City Voters complained that Israeli officials were not allowing them to vote even though the Palestinian central election commission had properly registered them. One election monitor said he thought up to 500 voters had been turned away. Under special voting arrangements for East Jerusalem - which Israel has annexed and sees as its exclusive domain, while international law decrees it to be occupied territory - Palestinians are allowed to vote in Israeli post offices. Only minor problems have been reported in Gaza and the West Bank, where voters are having to make their way past Israeli checkpoints and road blocks to reach polling stations Casting his vote at the West Bank compound in Ramallah where Arafat is buried, Mr Abbas - also known as Abu Mazen - said the vote was taking place in a "marvellous" fashion. "It is an illustration of how the Palestinian people aspire to democracy," he said. Opinions polls have given Mr Abbas, leader of the main Fatah party, a clear lead over the pro-democracy activist Mustafa Barghouti, who is standing as an independent, and five other candidates. But analysts say Mr Abbas would need a strong win - perhaps up to two-thirds of the vote - to go forward with his agenda. Palestinian militant group Hamas has called for a boycott of the vote. The final result expected on Monday. About 1.1 million Palestinians have registered to vote in their first presidential election since 1996. Roadblocks Israel says it has done what it can to ease travel restrictions for the vote, including removing a number of temporary roadblocks. But some Palestinians say they have not gone far enough. ELECTION FACTS Candidates: Mahmoud Abbas (Fatah), Mustafa Barghouti, Tayser Khalid (DFLP), Bassam al-Salhi (leftist), Sayyed Baraka Abdul Karim Shubayr, and Abdul Halim Ashqar Hamas is boycotting vote Voting at 3,000 polling stations between 0500 and 1700 GMT 1.8 million eligible voters More than 500 international observers and thousands of local monitors Official result on 10 January "Major checkpoints are still in place, but there was never an intent to remove them," an Israeli army spokesman said. "It's obvious they must stay in place for security reasons. Terrorist threats still have to be dealt with." The former French Prime Minister Michel Rocard, the head of the European Union's monitoring mission, said he had seen no serious problems at checkpoints. The death of Arafat in a Paris hospital in November has raised hopes for new peace talks between the Palestinians and Israelis. Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon had refused to do business with Arafat. As Palestinians went to the polls, Israel's Labour Party leader Shimon Peres, who is entering a new coalition government with Mr Sharon, told the BBC he thought "very highly" of Mr Abbas. Speaking on the BBC's Breakfast with Frost programme, he described Mr Abbas as a "serious man" and a "tough negotiator". Mr Abbas has said he will ask current Prime Minister Ahmed Qurei to form a new government if he wins the election. On the eve of voting, acting President Rawhi Fattuh announced that Palestinian parliamentary elections would be held on 17 July.

[Dreamer128]

Abbas wins Palestinian election

The Palestinian presidential elections have been won by PLO leader Mahmoud Abbas, as expected. The first exit polls show Mr Abbas winning 66 to 70 percent of the vote, far more than his rival Mustafa Barghouthi. The turnout was around 65 percent. In a victory speech, the 69-year-old PLO leader promised to put an end to the suffering of the Palestinian people.
Israel says it has hopes for a new era of peace, dialogue and compromise.

The Israeli Prime Minister, Ariel Sharon, wants to meet with Mr Abbas as soon as possible. But whether Mr Abbas can breathe new life into the peace process with Israel will depend primarily on his success in reigning in the violence, which is one of the conditions set by Israel. The PLO leader's moderation means he is less popular with Hamas and other militant movements.

The Palestinian elections went by without major problems. International observers say Israeli troops cooperated at the border crossings, and that voting was only difficult in East Jerusalem.The official results of the presidential elections are expected to be announced on Monday morning.

(rnw.nl)

[Illumina Drathiran'ar]

Problems, in Palestine?

[shamrock_uk]

Lol Illumina.

Anyway, Mahmoud Abbas has claimed the win after exit polls put him clear ahead. Somewhat encouragingly, Hamas (after boycotting the vote) has said they will work with Abbas if he is elected.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/mid...st/4160171.stm

Abbas claims Palestinian poll win
Mahmoud Abbas has claimed victory in the Palestinian presidential election and dedicated his win to late leader Yasser Arafat.

Exit polls suggest Mr Abbas won around two-thirds of the vote but an official result is not likely until Monday.

The Central Elections Commission said turnout was at least 66%.

Analysts said Mr Abbas needed a wide margin of victory and high turnout to push his agenda of peace talks and an end to the armed Palestinian uprising.

Polling closed at 1900 GMT on Sunday, two hours later than scheduled after voting difficulties forced an extension.

Late surge

Mr Abbas addressed a rally of hundreds of supporters in the West Bank town of Ramallah, telling them: "I present this victory to the soul of Yasser Arafat and present it to our people, to our martyrs and to 11,000 prisoners" in Israeli jails.

One exit poll by the Palestinian Centre for Policy and Survey Research has given Mr Abbas 66% of the vote and his closest challenger, Mustafa Barghouti, 19.7%.

MAHMOUD ABBAS
Moderate head of main political faction Fatah
Seen as someone Israel will talk to
Willing to talk peace with Israel
Wants end to Palestinian armed uprising
Pledges to stick to key positions of late Yasser Arafat
A second by An Najah University gives Mr Abbas 69.5% and Mr Barghouti 24.5%.

However, a late surge in voting means it may be some time before official figures are known.

The extent of his margin, as well as the level of turnout, are seen as key if Mr Abbas is to claim a clear mandate.

US President George W Bush praised Sunday's election.

He said it was, along with upcoming parliamentary polls, "essential for the establishment of a sovereign, independent, viable, democratic and peaceful Palestinian state that can live alongside a safe and secure Israel".

There are 1.8m Palestinians who are eligible to vote.

Voting was reported brisk but there were problems with registration, heavy turnout and the turning away of hundreds of voters from a big Israeli-run polling station in East Jerusalem.

These elections are... a momentous move towards political reform and modern democracy
Watan, Gaza City

Some chaotic scenes were reported there.

Voters complained that Israeli officials were not allowing them to vote even though the Palestinian central election commission had properly registered them.

One election monitor said he thought up to 500 voters had been turned away.

Under special voting arrangements for East Jerusalem - which Israel has annexed and sees as its exclusive domain, while international law decrees it to be occupied territory - Palestinians are allowed to vote in Israeli post offices.

Boycott call

Although voting seemed to go smoothly for most of the day in Gaza, there were reports of chaotic scenes outside polling stations in the evening.

Officials revised the rules in a way that appeared to allow people to cast their ballots wherever they wanted, rather than at specific polling stations. A human rights group said it would seek court action over the irregularities.

At a polling station in Ramallah in the West Bank, five Palestinian gunmen fired into the air in frustration that some names had been left off lists.

They were persuaded to leave the station.

The BBC News website's Martin Asser says the extension had put pressure on polling station staff who were already complaining of fatigue after working non-stop for 12 hours.

Earlier, casting his vote at the Ramallah compound where Arafat is buried, Mr Abbas - also known as Abu Mazen - said the vote was taking place in a "marvellous" fashion.

"It is an illustration of how the Palestinian people aspire to democracy," he said.

Palestinian militant group Hamas had called for a boycott of the vote, but on Sunday a spokesman, Sami Abu Zuhri, said: "We will deal with the elected president despite our boycott."

[Azred]

Don't get overly excited about this election...it won't change anything. Hamas has the avowed goal of the destruction of Israel, despite what they might say in public. Further, Abbas will not be able to reign in any violence, because the hard-core Palestinians will see him as weak for trying to work with Israel.

On the other hand, I hope this is one time when I really am proven wrong....

[Khazadman Risen]

Abbas has said he'll continue Arrafat's policies. Does that mean he's going to keep the Palestinians in poverty and steal all the aid money from the western countries for his own personal enrichment?

[shamrock_uk]

I would imagine that without Arafat's power base, Abbas will depend more on international support and will therefore be forced to take a more democratic and transparent approach to governance, preventing any similar hoarding.

Here's hoping!

It should be noted however that (assuming the stories are accurate) Arafat's corruption is really a drop in the ocean. Palestinian poverty has been mainly caused by the systematic appropriation of resources from areas of their control during the last 30 years or so. This ranges from bogus taxes being levied on Palestinians when they had no eligability to claim the resulting benefits to the diversion of things as basic as water supply to Jewish settlements.

Appropriation of aid is a terrible crime for which Arafat should be roundly condemned, but it is not the underlying reason for Palestinian poverty.