Hamas apparent winner in Palestinian vote: Fatah official

RAMALLAH, West Bank (Reuters) – Hamas has apparently won
the Palestinian parliamentary election, a senior official of
President Mahmoud Abbas’s long-dominant Fatah faction said on
Thursday.

A Hamas victory, if confirmed by official results, would
put it in position to dominate a new Palestinian cabinet, which
would dramatically shake up the Palestinian Authority and
likely put peacemaking with Israel in a deep freeze.

“It seems that Hamas will form the next government,” said
the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, after a
Hamas leader claimed victory in Wednesday’s vote. Fatah and
Hamas had both said earlier that a coalition government was
possible.

There was no confirmation from the Palestinian electoral
commission, which said official results were expected to emerge
later on Thursday.

Exit polls had forecast a narrow win by Fatah and a strong
second-place showing by Hamas, a group committed to Israel’s
destruction.

Earlier Ismail Haniyeh, a Hamas leader in the Gaza Strip,
said the group had won more than 70 seats in the 132-member
parliament. He said he based the numbers on initial ballot
counts from Hamas representatives at polling stations.

The United States and Israel say the group cannot be a
negotiating partner until it changes that policy.