Israeli leaders paid almost no public attention to the Palestinian election – although it could produce a united Palestinian leadership that could represent a joint front in the peace negotiations with Israel. On the other hand, if the vote gives Hamas a bigger role in the Palestinian government, it could also affect Israel’s ability to coordinate with the Palestinian Authority – since Hamas does not recognize Israel and is considered a terrorist group by Israel and by a large part of the international community.
On the other hand, many Palestinians keep an eye on Israeli politics, said Professor Abusada, who said it was “a sad thing” to see Israeli elections held in such a repetitive cycle. But at least the Israelis have had the opportunity to vote frequently, he said. “We haven’t been able to for a long time,” he added. “It makes us feel cynical about our own political system because we are not able to make any changes.”
Within the confines of Palestinian politics, the prospect of an election, however, has shaken some of the alliances and assumptions of Palestinian politics previously dying. For the first time in years, Palestinians can imagine Parliament’s dormant buildings in Ramallah and Gaza City coming back to life. And Fatah, long the engine of the Palestinian national movement, now faces challenges not only from Hamas, but from other parts of secular Palestinian society.
Confirmed or potential challengers include Salam Fayyad, a former prime minister of the Palestinian Authority; Mohammed Dahlan, a former Fatah security chief who now lives in exile in the United Arab Emirates; and Nasser al-Kidwa, a former Palestinian envoy to the United Nations and nephew of Yasser Arafat, Abbas’ predecessor.
All three said they wanted to help found new alliances to compete against Fatah and Hamas, while allies of Marwan Barghouti, an influential Fatah militant imprisoned in Israel on five murder charges, said he was considering this.
In Gaza, Hamas faces the threat of a generation of young Palestinians struggling to find work. The unemployment rate in Gaza is around 50%, largely because of the blockade Israel has placed in the enclave to undermine Hamas’ military activity and rocket production. If Hamas is replaced by a unity government, some Gaza residents hope, the new leadership may ease at least some of the tensions with Israel and improve living conditions.