RAMALLAH, West Bank — Freed from Yasser Arafat's one-man rule, Palestinians say they are eager and able to build the first real democracy in the Arab world, despite the dangers lurking on the road to Jan. 9 elections.
The thrill of new possibilities is felt across the West Bank and Gaza Strip: the field of candidates for Palestinian Authority president gets more crowded by the day and includes a militant sheik turned moderate, a dissident once jailed by Arafat, and a prisoner of Israel campaigning from his cell.
"Now it's real competition, the possibility of winning is there," said pro-democracy activist Mustafa Barghouti, a physician considering a presidential bid.
However, the shift to democracy could be rough.
Armed gangs have been controlling the streets in four years of Israeli-Palestinian conflict, raising the threat of political violence during a heated campaign.
Democratic traditions are not deeply rooted. During his 10 years as leader of the Palestinian Authority, Arafat accepted some of the trappings of democracy, including general elections in 1996 and a feisty parliament, but always reserved the final say.
Islamic militants, who are not fielding a candidate, haven't said whether they'll suspend attacks on Israel; without a truce, it would be virtually impossible to hold the vote. And Israel has not yet agreed to keep its troops at a distance from the voting.
Khalil Shekaki, a Palestinian pollster, said that in the turbulent transition phase, the stakes are huge.
"We can either find ourselves plunged into a bloodbath, or we can create the most beautiful democracy in the Middle East," he said.
Although the Bush administration is pushing for democracy in the region, and the 21 Arab countries are promising reforms, none has a freely elected government. Many rulers inherit the post and most stay in power for life, either through absolute authority or rigged elections. A few countries, like Morocco, Kuwait, Bahrain and Jordan, have active parliaments, though their monarchs can veto any legislative action.
The new crop of contenders has left Palestinians excited, proud and a little confused.
"I've been to many Arab countries during my studies," said Suleiman Rawaj, 29, a supporter of the militant Hamas group in Gaza City. "I think the freedom we have here in Palestine is the best among the Arab countries."
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