All of the early polls gave two-thirds of the vote to Mahmoud Abbas (Abu Mazen), interim head of the Palestinian Authority (PA). Estimates of the number of voters varied widely, but several Arab news sites estimated the turnout to be about 70 per cent although it was much lower in Jerusalem. His most serious challenger is Dr. Mustafa Barghouti (distant cousin of jailed terrorist Marwan Barghouti), received less than 25 per cent of the votes, according to the early and unofficial results.
Arabs shot rifles in the air in Ramallah as they celebrated the apparent victory of Abu Mazen as successor to Yasser Arafat.
Former United States President Jimmy Carter confirmed that Israel fully cooperated in allowing the elections to take place properly, despite accusations from PA leaders that Israel had prevented potential voters from reaching polling stations. Israel removed 14 roadblocks in Arab urban areas and allowed PA policeman to carry rifles.
Terrorists continued to fire mortar shells and missiles on southern Israel, and Hizbullah terrorists in Lebanon killed one IDF solider in an attack near the northern border which Defense Minister Shaul Mofaz said was timed with the elections.
Results will not be announced until Monday, at the earliest. About 30 per cent of the eligible voters had cast their votes by mid-afternoon. Several hundred foreign observers supervised the elections, including American Senator Joseph R. Biden, who said, “This could be an election back in the States so far.” Carter affirmed there was “no Israeli intimidation.”
Israeli defense officials Sunday restated their expectations that Abu Mazen, if elected, will immediately begin to halt terror and incitement. Mofaz said that residents in the Sderot and Gush Katif areas in southern Israel will be the first to enjoy the anticipated halt to mortar shelling and Kassam missile explosions.
However, one Arab voter said, “It does not make any difference which candidate wins. Everyone has a platform and principles that Yasser Arafat determined. The Arab people will bring down the platform on their heads if they diverge from those principles.”
Arabs shot rifles in the air in Ramallah as they celebrated the apparent victory of Abu Mazen as successor to Yasser Arafat.
Former United States President Jimmy Carter confirmed that Israel fully cooperated in allowing the elections to take place properly, despite accusations from PA leaders that Israel had prevented potential voters from reaching polling stations. Israel removed 14 roadblocks in Arab urban areas and allowed PA policeman to carry rifles.
Terrorists continued to fire mortar shells and missiles on southern Israel, and Hizbullah terrorists in Lebanon killed one IDF solider in an attack near the northern border which Defense Minister Shaul Mofaz said was timed with the elections.
Results will not be announced until Monday, at the earliest. About 30 per cent of the eligible voters had cast their votes by mid-afternoon. Several hundred foreign observers supervised the elections, including American Senator Joseph R. Biden, who said, “This could be an election back in the States so far.” Carter affirmed there was “no Israeli intimidation.”
Israeli defense officials Sunday restated their expectations that Abu Mazen, if elected, will immediately begin to halt terror and incitement. Mofaz said that residents in the Sderot and Gush Katif areas in southern Israel will be the first to enjoy the anticipated halt to mortar shelling and Kassam missile explosions.
However, one Arab voter said, “It does not make any difference which candidate wins. Everyone has a platform and principles that Yasser Arafat determined. The Arab people will bring down the platform on their heads if they diverge from those principles.”