A group of Palestinians from the Fatah faction forced the election office of the town of Dir El Balah to close on Monday in the Gaza Strip. The group was protesting what they saw as Fatah's plans to appoint candidates for upcoming elections without holding primaries, which they viewed as a conspiracy.
Many Fatah members feel that primaries would facilitate the introduction of younger, more popular leaders into the party, instead of what are seen by many as corrupt, entrenched ones.
Earlier, primary elections in the Gaza Strip were also cancelled in the past when unrest developed at least one dozen polling stations on November 28 throughout Gaza. Gunfire was reportedly fires, and polling boxes stolen according to Haaretz.
Also on Monday, Israeli authorities revealed that Israel's security forces had arrested Majed Amer near the West Bank town of Nablus two months ago. Israeli sources said Amer was a member of the Al Aqsa Martyrs’ Brigades who had been recruited to Hizbullah. He reportedly received money from the group to carry out attacks against Israelis.
British National deported from Israel
Meanwhile, Israeli authorities decided to deport a British citizen who had been arrested two weeks ago for defying a ban prohibiting him from entering Israel.
Andrew McDonald entered Israel under a false name and overstayed his visa into the country. He had barricading himself in the house of a suicide bomber four years ago, and was subsequently arrested by Israeli forces.
