RAMALLAH, West Bank – Islamic militant group Hamas’ surprise victory in Palestinian elections unnerved the world on Thursday, darkening prospects for Mideast peace and ending four decades of rule by the corruption-riddled Fatah Party.
The parliamentary victory stunned even Hamas leaders, who mounted a well-organized campaign but have no experience in government. They offered to share power with President Mahmoud Abbas, the Fatah chief, who said he may go around the new government to talk peace with Israel.
Underscoring the tensions between the secular Fatah and Islamic fundamentalist Hamas, some 3,000 supporters of the militant group marched through Ramallah and raised their party’s green flag over the Palestinian Parliament. Fatah supporters tried to lower the banner. The two sides fought for about 30 minutes.
Abbas, who was elected last year to a four-year term as president of the Palestinian Authority, has yet to decide how closely to work with a group that built its clout through suicide bombings. But his Fatah Party decided not to join a Hamas government, Fatah legislator Saab Erekat said.
“We will be a loyal opposition and rebuild the party,” Erekat said after meeting with Abbas.
Hamas won a clear majority in Wednesday’s vote, capturing 76 of the 132 seats in Parliament, according to official, near-complete results released Thursday. The results of the popular vote were not announced.
Four independent candidates backed by Hamas also won seats. Fatah, which has dominated Palestinian political life since the 1960s but alienated voters because of rampant corruption, retained 43 seats. The remaining went to smaller parties.
Palestinians across the Gaza Strip and West Bank greeted the election results with joy, setting off fireworks and firing rifles in the air.
But leaders across the world demanded that Hamas, which is branded a terror group by the U.S. and European Union, renounce violence and recognize Israel.
“If your platform is the destruction of Israel, it means you’re not a partner in peace, and we’re interested in peace,” President Bush said in Washington.
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