Palestinian Student Elections Show Support for Hamas
Student elections at Palestinian universities showed wide support for Islamist movements, writes Adnan Abu Amer.
Palestinian universities have witnessed in recent weeks consecutive elections for their student councils. Rivalry has been heated between two blocs affiliated with the two main traditional rivals in the Palestinian arena. Fatah was represented by the “Fatah Youth Organization,” while the “Islamic Bloc” represented Hamas.
The election results varied between universities. Hamas has won the majority of the student council’s seats in the Islamic University in the Gaza Strip — its historic stronghold, while in Birzeit University in the West Bank it has won 20 seats against 23 for its rival Fatah. In the Palestine Technical University, Hamas won nine seats.
Islamic ideology
Elections have been at the core of Hamas’ political system, its interests and even its historic composition. Elections have constituted the main reason for its political existence. This is especially true as the Islamic movement has fought many electoral battles against the PLO, in an attempt to fill the gaps and entrench its role in Palestinian political life.
