Palestinian presidential election, 2005

The 2005 Palestinian presidential election — the first to be held since 1996 — took place on January 9, 2005 in the West Bank and Gaza Strip. Voters elected PLO chairman Mahmoud Abbas as the new President of the Palestinian Authority to replace Yasser Arafat, who died on November 11, 2004.

Related Topics:
1996 - January 9 - 2005 - West Bank - Gaza Strip - PLO - Mahmoud Abbas - President - Palestinian Authority - Yasser Arafat - November 11 - 2004

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Seven candidates contested the election. Abbas won over 62% of the votes cast, with independent Mustafa Barghouti coming second, on just under 20%, and the remaining candidates far behind.

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The election was boycotted by Hamas and Islamic Jihad. In the Gaza Strip, where Hamas is strongest, it is estimated that about half of the eligible voters voted.

Related Topics:
Hamas - Islamic Jihad

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