The Islamic terrorist group Hamas has won municipal elections in the biggest cities in Judea and Samaria. Hamas took 70 percent of the vote in Nablus (Biblical Shechem), underscoring the major challenge the group poses to Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas ahead of parliamentary elections set for next month. Hamas welfare programs and its suicide bombing campaign against Israel have won it popularity at the expense of Abbas' Palestinian Authority, which is widely seen as corrupt. Hamas seeks the destruction of Israel, and a strong showing in elections could doom the peace process.