Palestinian security forces cast ballots for parliamentary candidates today in the official start of this week's Palestinian elections.
The 58,700 security personnel, who will be permitted to vote until Monday, are being deployed on election day next Wednesday to prevent possible political violence.
The ruling Fatah Party faces a stiff challenge from the Islamic group Hamas, which is participating in a legislative vote for the first time. A poll released Friday put the two movements in a dead heat.
Although the two sides have pledged to avoid violence on election day, tensions remain high. Gunmen, mostly from groups affiliated with Fatah, have repeatedly taken over election and government offices in recent weeks and threatened to disrupt the election.
Dozens of police eagerly lined up at one station in the West Bank city of Nablus to vote.
At the Shawki school, one of Gaza City's two polling stations, about 10 people waited quietly outside for voting to start. The school was heavily guarded, and the voters, wearing civilian clothes, had to present identification and hand over their weapons to the guards before casting their ballots.
"I came to vote because it's a national duty," said Hisham Sakallah, 39, a member of the elite Force 17 security unit. "I hope the election will pass smoothly so we can send a civilized image to the world about our people and about our respect for democracy." Paralyzed by disease, Sakallah, who now has an administrative job, entered the station on crutches.
To prevent fraud, forces guarding the stations were not permitted to enter the voting areas, and each voter had to mark his finger with special ink to make sure no one voted twice.
Palestinians will choose 132 parliament members — 66 from national party lists and 66 in local district voting.
Hamas is expected to make a strong showing. Best known for carrying out dozens of suicide bombings in Israel, Hamas has run a well-organized campaign focusing on internal Palestinian issues, such as improving public services and ending government corruption. In contrast, Fatah has been riven by disarray, infighting and widespread perceptions of corruption.
Dozens of disgruntled Fatah activists, angry after being kept off the party's slate of candidates, are running as independents in the district voting, threatening to split the Fatah and further boost Hamas. Fatah's party slate also is problematic.
It includes at least two vigilante gunmen widely feared in their towns, including a man who calls himself Hitler and last year executed a suspected informer for Israel in front of a large crowd.
During the election campaign, Hamas candidates have generally adopted a conciliatory tone and been evasive about whether the group would renounce violence.
But at a large rally Friday, the group's No. 1 candidate, Ismail Haniyeh, made clear that Hamas remains committed to destroying Israel and capturing the al Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem, the third-holiest site in Islam.
Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas has said he hopes Hamas will moderate its positions once it joins parliament or even the Palestinian government.