Palestinian universities have witnessed in recent weeks consecutive elections for their student councils. Rivalry has been heated between two blocs affiliated with the two main traditional rivals in the Palestinian arena. Fatah was represented by the “Fatah Youth Organization,” while the “Islamic Bloc” represented Hamas.
The election results varied between universities. Hamas has won the majority of the student council’s seats in the Islamic University in the Gaza Strip — its historic stronghold, while in Birzeit University in the West Bank it has won 20 seats against 23 for its rival Fatah. In the Palestine Technical University, Hamas won nine seats.