Daily Israel Report  News Briefs    10/22/2012, Cheshvan 6, 5773
Fatah Claims Victory in Elections  Despite both wins and losses
in regional PA elections, Fatah officials celebrated, saying
that the election results were a “huge victory,” and claiming
that its faction continues to enjoy the backing of a majority of
Palestinians. This contrasts with other accounts of media
results.  The elections were boycotted by Hamas and therefore
the PA was banned from holding the vote in the Gaza Strip.
“Fatah ran in the elections against itself and its political
allies and not against its political rivals,” senior Fatah
official Nabil Amr told the press. He insisted that internal
strife once again had a negative impact on the performance of
the party helmed by Mahmoud Abbas.