GI 02.12.05, News and analysis on this week's Palestinian political earthquakes

News and analysis on this week's Palestinian political earthquakes.
Much ink has been spilled this past week (and internet kilobytes transferred) about the recent "earthquakes" in Israel's political scene: the election of Amir Peretz to the head of the Labor Party, Ariel Sharon's break with Likud, Shimon Peres' abandonment of Labor for Sharon's new party, Kadima.  Less, however, has been made of the earthquakes reverberating through Palestinian politics.
Reports Al-Ahram Weekly:
Last week, primaries were held in Ramallah, Nablus, Bethlehem and several other towns in the West Bank. In Ramallah, [Marwan] Barghouti and his allies won up to 95 per cent of the votes, mainly at the expense of old-guard candidates. Predictably, the results shocked the old guard, as it effectively meant that the political careers of many were coming to an end.
Who is this new generation of leaders coming to power?  The Christian Science Monitor has a profile:
NABLUS, WEST BANK - Before becoming a front- runner for the Palestinian parliament in this city, militant Nasser Juma spent most of his life either in jail or as a fugitive. At one point, he was nearly killed by Israelis and, he says, tortured by Palestinians.
But now Mr. Juma represents one of the best hopes for the future success of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas's ruling Fatah Party. Party leaders hope his militant credentials will draw support from many Palestinians who are fed up with Fatah's domestic failures. Also, Fatah is looking to stem the rising political fortunes of the Islamic fundamentalist Hamas party ahead of the Jan. 25 legislative elections, the Palestinians' first in a decade.
Along with imprisoned Fatah leader Marwan Barghouti, Juma, who is in his late thirties, was one of a handful of prominent Palestinian militants to emerge victorious over graying Fatah Party politicians in the first round of a primary election held in four West Bank cities last weekend...
"The young generation considers the old generation to be responsible for this chronic state of corruption. It refuses reform. It refuses change," says Juma. "The young generation would like to see a leadership which is empowered to lead. I am able to comprehend their desires and needs. I am able to respond to them."
Beyond the corruption issue, the young guard is candid about its views on peace.  Their imprisoned leader Marwan Barghouti may be known as "the engineer of the intifada" but given a relative calm and the pressures of a democratic system, they are ready to negotiate with Israel-- and may lend Mahmoud Abbas additional credibility to deliver on a deal: 
Because of the calm in fighting with Israel, Juma says he is no longer wanted by Israel, a relief that has allowed him to tentatively fall into line with Abbas's preference for negotiations over armed conflict. "We are committed to the nonviolence mode," the candidate said. "It's an attempt to reflect the public sentiment of the people."
Of course, the stories of violence and fraud relating to the primaries have also been troubling:
RAM, West Bank -- Palestinian officials called off the ruling Fatah Party's first-ever primaries Tuesday, but others said the vote was going ahead, sparking confusion and wrangling as the party tries to reform and rid itself of the taint of corruption.
Many entrenched Fatah officials, seeing little chance of winning, wanted the voting stopped and the parliamentary slate chosen by party insiders. But the young guard, backed by the rank-and-file, were adamant it should go ahead, and West Bank polling stations opened as planned Tuesday.
"Some people do not want democracy. (However) we are determined to have these primaries today," said Ahmed Abdel Rahman, an adviser to Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas.
There are, in short, many conflicting factors at work in the Palestinian electorate right now: the forces of the young against the old, of democratization and transparency against corruption.  Anti-corruption NGO MIFTAH has the last word on the matter (for now):
As both Palestinian and Israelis alike are heading towards parliamentary election next year, one can expect a great deal of change, which may make or break the volatile relationship between the two peoples and their governments... Fateh needs to resolve the pending issues between its new guard and old guard sooner rather than later, if it wishes to be a serious contender in the upcoming elections.