Hamas’ victory puts an end to over four decades of political dominance by Fatah — the party founded by the late Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat. Fatah’s popularity has waned in the years following the Oslo peace accords, which has seen a doubling of Israeli settlements inside the Occupied Territories. Fatah has ruled out entering a coalition government with Hamas. Meanwhile, top Fatah officials blamed Israel for their loss. Jibril Rajoub, former head of the West Bank Preventive Security Service and a losing candidate in the city of Hebron, said: “Israel has done everything to hurt the Palestinian Authority and sabotaged the chances to negotiate and reach an agreement. Hamas has reaped the fruit of this policy.”