THE murals still speak of war. Masked, armed men are glorified as part of the resistance. In northern Gaza, however, the military struggle has competition from electoral politics.

One newcomer to the fight is Hamas, the militant Islamic movement. Today its candidates will contend seats in Beit Hanoun, among ten towns across Gaza holding municipal elections.

There are signs even that Hamas will field candidates for the Palestinian parliamentary elections in July.

Mohamed al-Masri, the Fatah candidate, expects his party to lose about half of its thirteen seats in Beit Hanoun and Hamas — still committed to fighting occupation, but standing on an anti-corruption and anti-cronyism platform — to win at least two. (Copyright 2005 Times Newspapers Ltd. 01/27/05)