Fatah holds elections in Bethlehem?

5 April 2008

The Fatah movement held its regional elections for party officer positions in the West Bank city of Bethlehem on Friday. The results were announced on Saturday.

1,358 people out of a total of 1,450 registered party members in the Bethlehem voted in elections that were open for 15 hours.

The election was supervised by Fatah's Mobilization and Organization Committee. In addition to electing other party, former Fatah alleged Prime Minister Ahmad Qurei was given the authority to hold further elections throughout the West Bank and the Gaza Strip.

Fatah's secretary in Bethlehem, Fuad Kukali, resigned from his postion.

Fahmi Az-Za'arir, a Fatah spokesperson said that the elections were held in a "festive and democratic atmosphere." He said Fatah members would seek to come up with a unified approach to present political challenges.

Az-Za'arir added that eight out of 14 regional conferences have now been held in the West Bank in preparations for the upcoming Fatah movement conference.