Fatah, the ruling party headed by Yasser Arafat, claimed it won in 14 areas, while Hamas countered that it won in 17 areas. Some confusion was caused in some instances when the two parties each claimed the same candidate as its member. Official results, which were to have been released Saturday night, have been delayed.
Hamas' showing was stronger than expected, and did well in some areas where Fatah thought it had a stronghold. The results send a message to Mahmoud Abbas (Abu Mazen), the Fatah presidential candidate, of the strength of Hamas. Hamas will not field a candidate in the January 9 general election.
Hamas won in at least two regional areas near Shechem (Nablus), between the Jewish communities of Kedumim to the west and Eli to the east. The French news agency reported that Hamas also won in towns near Bethlehem, south of Jerusalem. Fatah appeared to have won in the towns nears Jericho in the Jordan Valley, Ramallah near Beit El in Samaria, and Kalkilye, which borders Kfar Saba.
Voter turnout was high, reaching more than 90% in some areas. Thousands of PA Arabs who left over the past few years returned from Syria, Jordan and Lebanon over the past few weeks to vote in the elections.
Hamas' showing was stronger than expected, and did well in some areas where Fatah thought it had a stronghold. The results send a message to Mahmoud Abbas (Abu Mazen), the Fatah presidential candidate, of the strength of Hamas. Hamas will not field a candidate in the January 9 general election.
Hamas won in at least two regional areas near Shechem (Nablus), between the Jewish communities of Kedumim to the west and Eli to the east. The French news agency reported that Hamas also won in towns near Bethlehem, south of Jerusalem. Fatah appeared to have won in the towns nears Jericho in the Jordan Valley, Ramallah near Beit El in Samaria, and Kalkilye, which borders Kfar Saba.
Voter turnout was high, reaching more than 90% in some areas. Thousands of PA Arabs who left over the past few years returned from Syria, Jordan and Lebanon over the past few weeks to vote in the elections.