The race for the Student Council leadership has begun: The
polls at Bir Zeit University west of Ramallah opened this morning (Wednesday), and 13,600 eligible students will be able to vote in today's elections for the university's student union.
The election for the chairmanship of the student council at the university centers around them a great deal of interest.
Five lists will run this year in the most prominent elections, the list of the Hamas student cell, in front of Fatah's list.
In the middle are representatives of the left-wing parties: the Popular Front, the Democratic Front and other independent elements.
The real battle is between members of Hamas' Al-Qutla al-Islamiya list and members of the Kotel Yasser Arafat, which represents the Fatah movement.
In recent days, student cell representatives from the various lists have conducted an election campaign at the university.
Demonstrations of power and processions were organized inside the campus, in what became a scene of political tussle between Fatah and Hamas.
Members of Hamas' Western Wall staged a particularly aggressive campaign in which they waved the organization's green flags and chanted slogans praising Muhammad Daf, the head of the military wing.
13,600 eligible students will be able to vote in the election, Photo: Palestinian Networks
Palestinian sources reported that Israeli security forces arrested representatives of the Hamas student cell last night.
This has led to accusations among Palestinians that Israel is trying to intervene and skew the election results.
Hamas condemned the arrests, saying it was a "preventive measure designed to shuffle the cards and disrupt the election."
Hamas' Al-Qutla list has surpassed the other lists several times in the past decade and has won elections to the Student Union at Bir Zeit University.
In Ramallah, there is great tension over a possible Hamas victory in this election, given the strengthening of the organization's power in the West Bank and East Jerusalem.
Were we wrong?
Fixed!
If you found an error in the article, we'll be happy for you to share it with us