In preliminary Palestinian sham elections, leading up to the main sham election next year, a terrorist gang dedicated to destroying the state of Israel made a strong showing.

According to preliminary results obtained by The Associated Press, Fatah movement won a majority of council seats in 14 towns, while Hamas took control in nine communities. In two towns, a joint Hamas-Fatah slate won, indicating that the rivalry was at times blunted by local issues and clan loyalties.

The outcome of the vote in one community, Yabed, was not immediately available.

Hamas officials said the group won a majority in at least 17 local councils, based on reports from their election observers. [Terrorists now have their own election observers, as the Associated Press notes blandly. Can the world get any more insane? —ed.]

The discrepancy could not immediately be explained. However, on the local level, membership in a political faction is now always clear-cut, and some candidates could have been claimed by the rival groups.

A Hamas spokesman in Gaza, Sami Abu Zuhri, Hamas spokesman, said the result was a reflection of strong support for the group among Palestinians.

Abu Zuhri suggested that Hamas was ready to forge coalitions with Fatah. “The coming stage is one of development and rebuilding our society, and we will cooperate with everyone to strengthen our society.”