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Palestinian Authority
At stake: Legislative Council
Background
The former British mandate of Palestine was instituted at the end of World War I, to oversee a territory in the Middle East that formerly belonged to the Ottoman Empire. After the end of World War II and the Nazi holocaust, the Zionist movement succeeded in establishing an internationally recognized homeland. In November 1947, the United Nations (UN) General Assembly passed a resolution calling for the formation of a Jewish state.
In 1948, the British government withdrew from the mandate and the state of Israel was created in roughly 17 per cent of the mandate's land, with the remaining areas split under the control of Egypt and Transjordan. Since then, the region has seen constant disagreement between Israel and the Palestinians, represented for decades by the Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO). Wars broke out in the region in the second half of the 20th Century, involving Lebanon, Syria, Jordan and Egypt.
The Palestinian Authority is a semi-autonomous institution, which oversees the government in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, and has control over civilian and security matters. The institution was established as part of the 1993 Oslo peace accords between the PLO and Israel. The Palestinian Authority is regarded by some as the starting point for the creation of an independent Palestinian state.
In January 2005, Mahmoud Abbas was elected president of the Palestinian Authority.
Click here for 2005 Palestinian Authority Presidential Election Tracker
2006 Legislative Council Election
The only previous election took place in January 1996. Fatah secured 50 seats in the 81-seat Legislative Council. A new ballot was scheduled for Jul. 17, 2005.
On Mar. 12, 2005, the Hamas Islamic Resistance Movement announced it would field candidates in the Legislative Council election. Group member Mohammad Ghazal stressed that Hamas still considered "resistance as a strategic choice." The group boycotted the only previous parliamentary ballot.
In 2004, Hamas founder Sheikh Ahmad Yassin and co-founder Abdel Aziz Rantisi were killed in separate Israeli missile strikes. The Israeli government believes Hamas is directly responsible for the deaths of 377 citizens in a variety of attacks, which include dozens of suicide bombings. Hamas was the top party in seven of the 10 Gaza Strip municipalities that held local elections on Jan. 27.
On Mar. 17, Palestinian Authority president Mahmoud Abbas said that representatives from 13 factions—including Hamas and Islamic Jihad—had agreed to extend the temporary cessation of attacks against Israel until the end of the year.
A poll conducted in mid-March by An-Najah National University placed Fatah as the top party with 27.2 per cent, followed by Hamas with 13.7 per cent.
On Apr. 20, legislators passed a new electoral law that seeks to change the allocation of seats, so that two-thirds of all lawmakers are chosen by direct ballot, with the remainder coming from party lists. Abbas wanted to enact a 50-50 split, in order to motivate Islamic factions to become part of the political process.
On May 2, Abbas announced that Fatah candidates will be chosen by the movement's members, and not selected by the president. Former Fatah leader Yasser Arafat handpicked the party's contenders in the 1996 ballot.
Also on May 2, Israeli prime minister Ariel Sharon urged Hamas to renounce violence before joining the electoral contest, saying, "It is inconceivable for an armed party to participate in the democratic process. From there, it is impossible to move on to the roadmap."
On Jun. 4, Abbas ordered the postponement of the ballot, saying, "The Legislative Council did not finalize the election law and we are running out of time. Therefore, the election should be delayed until the legal procedures and consultations are complete, and after that a new time will be set."
Hamas spokesman Mushir al-Masri called the decision "a violation of the Palestinian national interest" and the "result of narrow party considerations."
On Jun. 13, Abbas urged for the quick passage of the revised electoral law, which would increase the number of lawmakers from 88 to 132, choosing half of all legislators through party lists. Hamas official Mohammed Ghazzal called Abbas' decision "logical and acceptable" adding that his faction fully supports the proposed changes.
On Jun. 18, the Legislative Council endorsed the new electoral regulations after a 43-14 vote. The new rules include a provision that calls for the president's tenure to end at the same time as the terms of elected lawmakers.
Deputy speaker Hassan Khraisheh declared, "There is nothing left but to set a date for the elections." The law will become official after three months.
On Jun. 26, published reports confirmed that the election would most likely take place on Jan. 20, 2006. Abbas is expected to meet with representatives from the area's political factions before a date is set. Senior Hamas leader Sheikh Hassan Yousef said the group had "no objection" to holding the election in January.
On Aug. 15, Abbas officially scheduled the election for Jan. 21, 2006. Chief Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat said he expected a peaceful campaign, declaring, "We will not tolerate (violence.) Those who want to seek power need to do so through the ballot box, not bullets."
On Aug. 20, Abbas set Jan. 25, 2006 as the definitive date for the ballot. The original Jan. 21 proposal was cancelled because it interfered with a Muslim holiday.
Hamas spokesman Sami Abu Zuhri said the faction would contend in the election "to stop the monopoly of decision-making and put an end to corruption."
On Aug. 25, Abbas reiterated his view that Hamas could join the government, saying, "Hamas will take part in the elections and if they are successful, why not? If we want to build a democracy, we should accept all the consequences."
In December 2003, Sharon presented his "Disengagement Plan." In August 2005, the Israeli government evacuated close to 8,000 Israeli settlers who lived in 21 Gaza Strip and four northern West Bank settlements. Israel has removed all military personnel from the Gaza Strip, but intends to maintain a security presence in the West Bank.
On Sept. 15, Sharon said the withdrawal from Gaza provided a "window of opportunity" for the implementation of the road map, adding, "The Palestinians (...) deserve freedom and a sovereign national entity in their own country. Now it is their turn to prove their desire for peace." An independent Palestinian state is considered the main provision of the road map for peace in the Middle East, developed by the U.S., the UN, the European Union (EU) and Russia.
In September, Sharon said specific conditions should be met before Hamas is allowed to field candidates, saying, "In order to participate in the elections, they have to do two things. One, their weapons should be collected, and the other thing, they have to ban the covenant of the Hamas. It is one of the most terrible documents, calling for the elimination of the Jewish people and the state of Israel."
On Sept. 22, U.S. assistant state secretary David Welch criticized Abbas, saying, "Although (Abbas) has taken some steps to assert control, overall performance to date has been far from satisfactory. The PA must move quickly to establish order and take steps to dismantle the infrastructure of terror."
In a September State Information Service poll, 38.6 per cent of respondents said they would vote for Fatah, while 24.3 per cent expressed support for Hamas candidates.
On Nov. 27, jailed Fatah member Marwan Barghouti won the faction's primary election in the West Bank district of Ramallah. Israeli foreign minister Silvan Shalom ruled out releasing Barghouti in time for the legislative election, saying, "(He) will sit in jail until the end of his days."
On Dec. 8, Hamas announced that Mariam Farhat—a mother of three sons who died during the Palestinian uprising—would run as a candidate.
On Dec. 15, young Fatah dissidents rejected a call for unity from Abbas, and decided to contest the election on their own. The break-away faction, called The Future, claims the movement's old guard is responsible for corruption. The Hamas list is headed by Ismail Haniyeh.
On Dec. 18, European Union (EU) foreign policy chief Javier Solana said a victory for Hamas could jeopardize assistance funds, declaring, "It is very difficult that parties that do not condemn violence, without changing those positions, can be partners for the future." The EU is currently the Palestinian Authority's biggest donor, with $340 million U.S. allocated during 2005.
On Dec. 18, prime minister Ahmed Qorei tendered his resignation. Abbas appointed Nabil Shaath as the Palestinian Authority's acting prime minister.
On Dec. 21, the election faced new problems after Israeli officials said they will not allow Arabs living in East Jerusalem to cast ballots. In response, the Palestinian Authority said the election could be postponed. Chief Palestinian negotiator Saab Erekat declared, "This is a very dangerous development. I believe if the Israelis go ahead with this and sabotage our elections they will be pushing Palestinians towards a Somalia-model. It would be a catastrophe and a disaster, politically."
On Dec. 23, the factions of Fatah agreed on a compromise to feature a unified list, headed by Marwan Barghouti. Under the terms, most of the party's veteran politicians who did not win in the primaries will run in specific constituencies and will not be included in the party list.
On Dec. 24, Qorei returned to his post as prime minister, declaring, "I was not convinced about running for the elections. I was forced to run by the Fatah Central Committee, so I sent a letter saying I am no longer a candidate."
In late December, the election faced new problems after Israeli officials said they will not allow Arabs living in East Jerusalem to cast ballots. Abbas has said the election would be postponed unless an agreement is reached.
On Jan. 4, 2006, Israeli prime minister Ariel Sharon was rushed to hospital after suffering a cerebral haemorrhage. The prime minister remained in a coma for several days. Sharon is listed in critical but stable condition. Deputy prime minister Ehud Olmert has become Israel's acting head of government.
On Jan. 7, Marwan Barghouti—who heads the Fatah list—called the ballot "a political, legal and national process of first-degree importance that should not be affected by the latest developments in Israel."
On Jan. 9, Abbas said he received "American assurances that the campaigning and the elections will take place in Jerusalem." The statement came after Israel said it would not allow candidates who belonged to militant groups to campaign in East Jerusalem.
On Jan. 10, Israeli defence minister Shaul Mofaz said Israel will permit Arab residents in East Jerusalem to cast ballots.
On Jan. 11, Hamas published its election manifesto, which reads, "Our nation is currently at a stage of national liberation, and it has the right to act to regain its rights and end the occupation by using all means, including armed resistance. (...) We must use all means in order to support our people and establish a state whose capital is Jerusalem." Hamas' contentious call for the "destruction of Israel" is not included in the document.
On Jan. 18, Abbas said he would consider resigning if his platform—which includes peace negotiations with Israel—is rejected by the incoming lawmakers. "If I feel that I can't fulfill this program, then the seat is not my ultimate ambition," Abbas said.
Polls conducted in January by the Palestinian Center for Public Opinion, the Birzeit University Development Studies Programme, and An-Najah National University put Fatah in first place in the party list election with the support of 35 per cent to 39.3 per cent of respondents. Hamas' List of Change and Reform was second, with 26.7 per cent to 31.3 per cent.
Voting took place on Jan. 25. The results of an exit poll by Birzeit University suggested Fatah would receive 46.4 per cent of the vote, with Hamas in second place with 39.5 per cent. A survey by An-Najah National University also put Fatah ahead with 42 per cent. The numbers suggest Fatah will not be able to form a government on its own.
Abbas expressed his willingness to resume peace talks with Israel, even if Hamas eventually joins the administration, saying, "We are ready to negotiate. We are partners with the Israelis. They don't have the right to choose their partner. But if they are seeking a Palestinian partner, this partner exists."
Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat—who was re-elected as a Fatah candidate in Jericho—discussed the next steps, declaring, "It's premature to speak now about the shape and form of the cabinet, but I can tell you that this will be the beginning of a new Palestinian political life, a new horizon."
On Jan. 26, preliminary reports indicated that Hamas had captured a majority of the seats in the Palestinian Legislative Council. Under existing regulations, Abbas must ask the largest party to form a government.
Prime minister Ahmed Qoreia submitted his resignation to Abbas, and declared, "This is the choice of the people. It should be respected. If it's true, then the president should ask Hamas to form a new government."
Hamas leader Haniyeh said the group had secured close to 70 seats in the 132-member Palestinian Legislative Council. The exit polls had not outlined Hamas victories in specific districts. Both Israel and the United States have said they would not deal with a Hamas-led Palestinian government.
Erekat blamed Fatah's poor showing on Israel's refusal to resume peace talks, saying, Israel has declared us non-partners about four years ago and they were not speaking to our elected president. Everybody was blaming Fatah for every mistake in the world. Everybody was tying our hands and our legs and throwing us into the sea. And now I think all these things, including our mistakes in Fatah, led to this result."
On Jan. 29, the Central Election Commission released final results. Hamas secured 74 seats, followed by Fatah with 45. Four other groups elected the remaining nine lawmakers. Voter turnout was tabled at 77.7 per cent.
Acting Israeli prime minister Olmert set specific guidelines for talks with a Hamas-led Palestinian government, declaring, "We clarified that without a clear abandonment of the path of terror, a recognition of Israel's right to exist in security and peace, Israel won't have any contact with the Palestinians. These principles are accepted by the international community. On this issue, I don't intend to make any compromises."
On Feb. 18, all lawmakers were sworn in. A travel ban imposed by Israel forced some new legislators to take the oath of office through a video conference. In his address to the Palestinian Legislative Council, Abbas said he expected Hamas to honour existing accords with Israel and to stop violence.
On Feb. 19, the Hamas faction nominated Haniyeh as prime minister. In Israel, Olmert ruled out any contact with a Hamas-led administration.
On Mar. 6, Hamas lawmakers voted to strip Abbas of powers he was awarded by Fatah in the last session of the outgoing parliament. In a statement, Fatah said the action "undermines the basis of dialogue and partnership in any institution with Hamas."
On Mar. 28, Haniyeh's cabinet was approved after a 71-36 vote. The next day, Haniyeh was sworn in as prime minister
Political Players
President: Mahmoud Abbas - Fatah
Prime minister: Ismail Haniyeh - Hamas
The president is elected by popular vote.
Legislative Branch: The Palestinian Legislative Council has 132 members; 66 members are elected in single-seat constituencies; and 66 members through proportional representation.
Results of Last Election:
President - Jan. 9, 2005
Vote% | |
Mahmoud Abbas - | 62.32% |
Mustafa Barghouti | 19.80% |
Tayssir Khaled - | 3.50% |
Bassam Salhi - | 2.69% |
Abdel Halim al-Ashqar | 2.68% |
Alsaied Barakh | 1.27% |
Abdel Karim Shbier | 0.76% |
Palestinian Legislative Council - Jan. 25, 2006
Vote% | Seats | |
List of Change and Reform (Hamas) | 44.45% | 74 |
Liberation Movement of Palestine (Fatah) | 41.43% | 45 |
List of Martyr Abu Ali Mustafa (PFLP) | 4.25% | 3 |
Alternative (DFLP, People's Party and FIDA) | 2.92% | 2 |
List of Independent Palestine (Mustafa Barghouti) | 2.72% | 2 |
The Third Way (Independent) | 2.41% | 2 |