| Submit your comments on this article |
| Israel-Palestine |
| Arafat Says He Will Schedule Elections |
| 2004-09-04 |
| Any day now... Palestinians launched a voter registration drive Saturday, a first step toward long-overdue elections, and Yasser Arafat promised that voting for parliament and president would take place this winter. Arafat was one of the first of some 1.8 million eligible voters to register, presenting his passport at a polling station in his headquarters in the West Bank city of Ramallah. The Palestinian leader, confined to the compound by Israel for more than two years, gave the building as his address. The last Palestinian general elections were in January 1996. Arafat has stood in the way of elections since then, arguing voting could not take place with Israeli soldiers occupying West Bank towns and cities. Critics say Arafat is trying to avoid elections at a time when his popularity is sinking amid widespread frustration over government corruption and his handling of the conflict with Israel. Legislator Hanan Ashrawi said Saturday that Arafat now appears committed to a vote. "We just need to work out the practical steps, including legislation," she said. "It is safe to say that the political will is there." Ali Jarbawi, head of the Palestinian Election Commission, said the registration drive would take five weeks, with a possible extension of two weeks. Once registration is completed, the law requires a three-month waiting period before elections for parliament and president of the Palestinian Authority can be held. |
| Posted by:Fred |