Hamas-affiliated bloc wins student vote at Birzeit University near Ramallah

A Hamas-affiliated student bloc wins elections at a top West Bank university — while the Palestinians have not held a general election since 2006.

The annual vote for the student council at Birzeit University outside Ramallah has been dominated by politics, which experts say reflects the lack of political horizon for young Palestinians.

Hamas will have 25 representatives on the Birzeit student council, according to results announced by its Student Affairs Department. The Hamas-affiliated bloc is down three seats in today’s vote compared with last year, losing its majority on the student body.

The Fatah movement wins 20 seats — up two from last year — while the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine gains one seat, with six in this year’s poll.