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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 . 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. 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. EARLY STAGES OF THE CAMPAIGN: NOMINATION AND WITHDRAWAL OF MARWAN BARGHOUTI Two weeks after the death of Arafat, Fatah nominated former PNA prime minister Mahmoud Abbas (also known as Abu Mazen) as its candidate, despite his relative lack of popular appeal. Palestinian Legislative Council member and Fatah leader in the West Bank Marwan Barghouti , who was in prison in Israel after being convicted for a number of Intifada killings, suggested that he might run, inspiring considerable speculation about his prospects. He was seen as the only candidate who could hope to compete seriously against Abbas. However, his proposed candidacy met with resistance from Fatah activists. After successive contradictory announcements, Marwan Barghouti declared his candidacy just before the registration deadline expired but then retired from the race on December 12 after discussions between his representatives and the Fatah leadership. With his withdrawal, Mahmoud Abbas was seen as the clear favourite, with Mustafa Barghouti in second place. Opinion polls before Marwan Barghouti withdrew his candidacy suggested that the contest would largely be a two-horse race between him and Mahmoud Abbas. Details of some of these polls are as follows:
FINAL LIST OF CANDIDATES
Three other candidates who registered by the end of the registration period subsequently withdrew: they were Marwan Barghouti, Hassan Khreisheh and Abd Al-Sattar Qasim . THE ELECTION CAMPAIGN The election campaign faced problems due to the widespread blockade of the Palestinian territories by the Israel Defense Forces . Despite Israel's assurances that it would do what it could to ensure that the election took place, in many instances Israeli forces actively interfered in the campaign. Among reported incidents was the arrest of Mustafa Barghouti by Israeli forces and his subsequent expulsion from East Jerusalem when he was going to hold an election speech there. He was also prevented from entering Nablus and Gaza. Bassam Al-Salhi , candidate for the Socialist Palestinian People's Party , was also prevented from visiting East Jerusalem. Many of Abbas' opponents claimed that they were unfairly treated as Israel denied them entry to areas Abbas was allowed to visit during the election campaign. Abbas was the only candidate allowed access to Gaza. CONDUCT OF THE POLLING The election was marked by difficulties in accessing polling stations. In Khan Younis Israeli soldiers opened fire against a school used as a polling station and by roadblocks prevented thousands of people from getting to the polling stations. {Link without Title} There were also some technical problems including those due to the incomplete electoral register. Persons not listed on the electoral register were permitted to vote on presentation of a valid identity card. Voting was controversially extended for two hours beyond the appointed closing time, apparently at the request of Fatah; the head of the electoral commission subsequently resigned in protest. The election was observed by number of international observors included former President Jimmy Carter and U.S. Senators Joe Biden and John E. Sununu . The European Union's foreign policy chief Javier Solana criticized Israel for obstructing the Palestinian presidential election. He was quoted as saying that "We expected the Israelis to offer more facilities for the Palestinian election process but they did not live up to promises." {Link without Title} RESULTS Mahmoud Abbas won the election, with over 62% of the votes cast. 70% of those listed in the electoral register voted; however, it should be noted that over 30% of eligible citizens were not registered. Full results released by the Central Elections Commission (CEC) on 12 January 2005 {Link without Title} :
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