NABLUS, West Bank ? Hamas supporters on Friday celebrated a landslide election victory in major West Bank towns, the strongest sign yet of the Islamic militant group’s growing political appeal ahead of Jan. 25 parliamentary elections.

Israel responded with concern, saying a Palestinian government dominated by Hamas – which calls for Israel’s destruction and has killed hundreds of Israelis in attacks – would not be a partner for peace.

The results stunned officials from Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas’ Fatah Party, whose internal disarray developed into a split this week when a group of young-guard leaders broke away.

Thousands of Hamas supporters joined victory marches after Friday prayers. In Jenin, where Hamas won a majority of local council seats, marchers chanted, “To Jerusalem we march, martyrs by the millions!” and held up copies of the Quran.

“We didn’t think for a moment that Hamas would win so many votes,” said Issam Abu Baker, Fatah’s chief in the Nablus region. “The earth shook under our feet, and this will have an effect on the parliament.”

Hamas’ welfare programs – coupled with its fierce resistance to Israel’s occupation – have won it grass-roots support among Palestinians fed up with Fatah’s corruption and inability to rein in lawlessness.

“We didn’t expect we would get that many votes,” said Adli Yaish, a local businessman who headed the Hamas list in Nablus and is expected to be the new mayor. “The Palestinian people want change.”

Palestinian supporters of the Islamic group Hamas chant slogans during a rally Friday celebrating Hamas' victory in Palestinian local elections in the West Bank city of Tulkarem. The Hamas militant group won local elections in the West Bank's largest cities, according to preliminary results, dealing a harsh blow to the ruling Fatah party just six weeks ahead of a parliamentary poll.

Victory for Hamas in the parliamentary election could torpedo efforts to renew long-stalled Israeli-Palestinian peace talks and could damage the Palestinian relationship with the United States. Hamas – responsible for dozens of suicide bombings – is on the U.S. list of terrorist organizations.

“If the Hamas was ever to become a dominant force in Palestinian politics, that would be the end of the peace process,” said Mark Regev, spokesman for the Israeli Foreign Ministry.

Yasser Mansour, Hamas’ spokesman for the northern West Bank, said the group was willing to talk to Israel, at least about local issues.

“We are open to Europe and the Arab world, and we have no problem sitting with the Israelis to discuss municipal affairs,” he said.

However, some Palestinians said they were wary of putting the Islamic group in charge of the Palestinian Authority.

Also Friday, Palestinian militants fired on an Israeli car near the West Bank city of Hebron, killing a resident of a local Jewish settlement. Militant groups linked to Fatah and Islamic Jihad claimed joint responsibility.

The army said it would increase security in the area, and Israel said the Palestinian Authority is not doing enough to stop extremists and linked the attack to the elections.

The Israeli military late Thursday imposed restrictions barring all Palestinians from entering Israel after troops discovered and detonated a car bomb near the West Bank town of Bethlehem.