Observers challenge the legitimacy of PA elections

1/11/2005 7:45:00 PM GMT

International and Palestinian observers challenged on Tuesday the credibility of the PA presidential election that was held Sunday and ended with the victory of PLO chairman , Mahmoud Abbas, widely known as Abu Mazen.

The French coordinator of the national committees monitoring elections, Maud Jose, and vice chairman of the international monitors, asserted on Tuesday that the committee witnessed a lot of breaches of the PA amended electoral law including, the extension of the vote for two hours.

Among other violations they cited was allowing the voters to cast ballots via IDs

Speaking during a news briefing in Gaza city, Jose said that the mishandling of the civil records lists has created great confusion among the voters.

Joe said that the committee warned that extending the polling was illegal and not justified.

Also, according to Joe, allowing the Palestinian citizens, whose names weren't registered in the voters' records, to cast their ballots left the door open for vote rigging.

Sharif Abu Watafa, a Palestinian coordinator for that same committee, criticized the PA elections committee’s decision to extend the vote calling it “illegal” action.

He, moreover, criticised the PA elections committee for allowing unregistered voters to cast their ballots.

Abbas victory expected

Meanwhile, Ismail Haneyya, one of the prominent Hamas leaders, said that Mahmoud Abbas's victory came as no surprise in light of the lack of any real competition running against him in the presidential elections.

In a press release, Haneyya affirmed that the upcoming municipal and legislative elections would be a vital step in the definition of the Palestinian political map.

He further added that practicing democracy within the Palestinian arena was a good thing as the Palestinian people continue to face repressive policies and occupying forces that are aimed at wiping them and inalienable rights out.

Haneyya stated that the performance of Abbas would be monitored in terms of his political program, in addition to peoples rights, real partnership and bringing to an end the influence of arms and money in the decision making process.

The Hamas leader also asked Abbas to preserve national unity, the resistance program, Palestinian constants as well as the refugees' right of return and not to "bet on American-Zionist promises or fall in the Zionist trap."

Haneyya affirmed that Hamas insisted on the resistance option and Palestinian rights in addition to inter-Palestinian dialogue in a bid to rebuild the Palestinian home. Furthermore, the restoration of the Arab and Islamic depth is of paramount importance in order to play an effective role in supporting the Palestinian people.

Bush and Sharon welcome Abbas with 'open arms'

While Hamas greeted the news of Mahmoud Abbas' election victory with caution, Ariel Sharon and George W. Bush were quick to offer their congratulations.

Sharon stated that he would call Abbas to wish him good luck and seek cooperation between Israel and the Palestinian leadership. Whereas President Bush invited the newly elected Palestinian president to Washington saying, "I offer my congratulations to Abu Mazen. I look forward to talking to him at the appropriate time. I look forward to welcoming him here to Washington if he chooses to come here."

The turnaround by the White House in holding talks with the Palestinian leadership follows a period in which Bush had refused all contact with the late president Yasser Arafat, accusing him of doing little to halt attacks on Israel.

"This is a man who has been elected by what appears to be a good-sized vote," said Bush on Abbas, "I'm heartened by the elections."

The American president backed the British sponsored conference due to take place in early March on Palestinian security, political and economic reforms. He believes the conference will be "aimed at helping the Palestinians develop the institutions necessary to support Abu Mazen's vision of a peaceful, active, vibrant state to become reality."

He further added that Israel must uphold its promise of withdrawing from the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, and that both sides still have heavy "responsibilities" in order to get the peace process back on track.

President Bush believes a stable and democratic Palestinian society is the key to a peaceful Middle East.