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Saturday, December 17, 2005
Hamas's Strong Showing in the Fourth Phase of the Local Elections Draws USA Criticism

Hamas's Strong Showing in the Fourth Phase of the Local Elections Draws USA
Criticism
www.ipc.gov.ps/ipc_new/english/details.asp?name=12471

GAZA, Palestine, December 17, 2005 (IPC + Agencies) -[Official PA website] -
In four major cities and some villages in the West Bank and Gaza Strip, the
Islamic movement of Hamas, in the forth stage of the municipal elections,
swept to victory, pertaining to unofficial initial results.

Jamal Al-Shobakey, head of the High Central Election Committee (HCEC),
declared that the electoral process of the forth phase was altogether
finalized in all of the four polling stations and all ballet boxes were
sealed.

Al-Shobakey added that the electoral process took place calmly and in a
civilized way with any problem unmentioned.

He also cited the high commitment of the voters and their abidance by the
followed instructions.

However, he said that there were some slight breaches by some electoral
lists which practiced publicity at the gates of the polling stations.

Well-informed sources announced that the semi-final results in Ramallah were
six seats gained by each of Watan list of Fatah, and Ramallah Liljamei
(meaning "Ramallah for all"). The later is a coalition between the Popular
Front and independent candidates. And Hamas won the three remaining seats.

The same sources mentioned also that Hamas won nine seats in Al-Bera, while
Watan list, a coalition between Fatah, Feda, Democratic Front, and People
Party won four seats.

(Change and Reform,) the list which belongs to Hamas was reported to win the
municipal elections in Nablus.

Furthermore, sources in the HCEC said that Hamas's list won in Jenin by a
large margin.

The sources added that the Change and Reform list won 9 seats out of 15,
while Jenin Martyrs list - a coalition between Fatah and the Popular Front -
won the other 6 seats.

It also made clear that the four independent blocs did not win any seats.

According to the report of the non-governmental Committee of Observation,
the close margin between the elections results in Ramallah was accounted for
by the low number of the vote casting, whereas the participants were only
5,600 out of 20,000 eligible voters.

The US criticizes Hamas's participation in the municipal elections.

The spokesman of the US foreign Department, Makro Mac, criticized Friday
Hamas's participation in the elections, arguing that it has contradictory
attitudes as a "terrorist organization", and wants, by the same breath, to
take part in the political process.

"Our position with respect to Hamas is unchanged. We classify it as a
terrorist organization. We don't have any dealings with members of Hamas,
"US foreign Department spokesman said.

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