Palestinian's election - Part II

With counting still under way, officials from the ruling Fatah party said Hamas had won a majority. Official results are due later today, at 6.00pm, but Palestinian Prime Minister Ahmed Qurei has announced his resignation, saying Hamas must form the next government following the parliamentary elections. Hams claimed it had won at least 70 seats in the 132-member parliament.

Even though the final numbers may be different, there is no doubt that the Hamas showing has transformed the Palestinian political arena. For decades, Fatah has totally dominated electoral politics, but that time is over. Hamas is also now a major power and it will enter parliament still committed to its armed confrontation with Israel.

With victory looming, Hamas senior officials said the group wanted to work with Fatah in a "political partnership". But they also said Hamas would not hold peace talks with Israel.

On that point everyone seems to agree, since Israel and the US consider Hamas a terrorist group and have said they do not want to deal with it. The EU - the biggest provider of aid to the Palestinian Authority - was a bit more cautious, stating that it would work with any peaceful Palestinian government.

I don't subscribe the Isareli and US extremist points of view, and once again feel proud of being an European. Palestinians have voted and democratically elected a new government. I think we have to respect that. Now it's time to reiterate our call on all concerned parties to put human rights at the top of their agenda and to spare no effort to end the increasingly widespread lawlessness and violence.

Let's hope that, as it happens in so many cases all over the world, this electoral victory will make Hamas change. For better, of course.