Palestinians Crowd the Polls to Cast Their Ballots

GAZA CITY, Gaza Jan. 25, 2006 — -- In the Daraj neighborhood of Gaza, dozens of supporters from both Hamas and Fatah are camped outside polling stations.

Fatah supporters don yellow hats while Hamas members carry green flags and hand out party pamphlets.

Technically, this is a violation of election laws as there should be no campaigning 48 hours before voting. However, election officials say there is nothing they can do about it because the crowds are too big.

The campaigners are just one indication of the enthusiasm among Palestinians as they vote in their first parliamentary election in more than a decade.

Klowed Lolo, 22, is voting for "change," which means she cast a ballot for Hamas.

"I want children educated and an end to all the corruption," she said.

Hamas has been running a tightly focused campaign, stressing an end to corruption, nepotism and a promise to reform the government.

Those issues are key to many Palestinians, who are expected to vote not so much for Hamas as against the more moderate ruling Fatah party, considered by many to be corrupt, out of touch and unable to deal with the anarchy in Gaza.

There has been little talk by Hamas or its supporters in this campaign about "resistance" or continuing attacks against Israel.

That does not mean Hamas has abandoned its military wing. If Hamas wins a substantial amount of seats in the Palestinian National Council, it says it will still use "resistance," or violence, as a means if necessary.

Palestinian militant groups have promised to keep guns away from polling stations today in order to keep an atmosphere of calm, a promise they have kept so far.

Results are expected to be announced on Thursday.