FATAH BEATS HAMAS IN CLOSE P.A. ELECTIONS TAINTED BY FRAUD

Fatah Survives Hamas Challenge in Palestinian Election - Arnon Regular
Abbas's ruling Fatah movement came out ahead in the latest round of Palestinian municipal elections despite a strong showing by Hamas, unofficial final results showed on Friday. Hamas won in the West Bank town of Kalkilya and was headed for victory in the Gaza Strip town of Rafah, Palestinian election officials said. The ruling Fatah movement appeared to have won 52 of the local races and Hamas won 30. However, seizing two major towns would be considered an achievement for the Islamists, analysts said. (Ha'aretz)

See also Voting Fraud Accusations in PA Election - Khaled Abu Toameh
Hamas and Fatah traded allegations of irregularities and voting fraud as hundreds of thousands of Palestinians headed to the ballot boxes on Thursday to elect 84 new municipalities and village councils in the West Bank and Gaza Strip. More than 2,500 candidates ran in the elections, 400 of them women. Hamas leaders said that many of the candidates who ran on an independent ticket were actually members of their movement. (Jerusalem Post)