Palestinian Premier, Cabinet resigns (AP) Updated: 2006-01-26 18:49
Palestinian Prime Minister Ahmed Qureia and his Cabinet
ministers submitted their resignations Thursday as the Islamic militant group
Hamas appeared to have captured a large majority of seats in the Palestinian
elections — a shocking upset sure to throw Mideast peacemaking into turmoil.
Senior Hamas leader and top candidate for the
Palestinian parliamentary elections, Ismail Hanieh, center, waves to
supporters during a rally to mark the 18th anniversary of the founding of
the Islamic group, in Gaza City, Friday Dec. 23, 2005.
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"This is the choice of the people. It should be respected," Qureia said. "If
it's true (the results), then the president should ask Hamas to form a new
government. For me, personally, I sent my resignation."
Under the law, Abbas must ask the largest party in the new parliament —
presumably Hamas — to form the next government. Abbas was elected separately a
year ago and remains president.
Hamas said before the election it does not want to govern alone, and would
prefer to bring Fatah into a coalition. Hamas leader Mahmoud Zahar said Thursday
that the group will declare its intentions after official results are announced
later in the day.
The result could have a devastating effect on the peace process with Israel.
Mushir al-Masri, a senior Hamas official, said Thursday that recognizing Israel
and negotiations with the Jewish state are "not on our agenda."
Israel and the United States have said they would not deal with a Hamas-led
Palestinian government. Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas has said he would step
down if he could no longer pursue his peace agenda with Israel.
Israeli Defense Minister Shaul Mofaz and top security officials convened
Thursday to discuss the apparent Hamas victory. Israel's acting prime minister,
Ehud Olmert, was to discuss the election results later with senior Cabinet
ministers and security officials.
Hamas' top candidate Ismail Haniyeh said the group had won about 70 seats in
the 132-seat parliament, based on reporting by Hamas activists who observed the
counting in the polling stations. Later in the day, another Hamas official,
speaking on condition of anonymity, said the number had risen to at least 75.
Officials with Fatah conceded that Hamas had won about 70 total seats. They
also spoke on condition of anonymity because counting in some districts was
continuing.
Palestinian election officials said on condition of anonymity because the
count was ongoing that Hamas had won a large majority of the 66 seats up for
grabs in electoral districts in the West Bank and Gaza. Half the seats in
Wednesday's parliament vote were chosen on a national list and the other half by
districts.
The Central Election Commission said it would make an
official announcement at 7 p.m. Thursday.
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