Mahmoud Abbasâ aides talked yesterday about the possibility of postponing Jan. 25 Parliament elections, citing Israelâs decision to ban voting in Jerusalem. Postponing or even canceling the Jan. 25 Palestinian parliamentary election could serve the interests of Abbas and the Israelis, but both sides dismissed speculation that they were in this together. Hamas, entering a parliamentary race for the first time, expects to capitalize on internal bickering that has split Abbasâ Fatah party. Israel is alarmed at the possibility that Hamas could do well in the voting or even win. Both would welcome a way to reduce the influence of the movement, blamed for bombings.
Israeli officials said that unlike past elections, the 200,000 Palestinians who live in East Jerusalem would not be allowed to vote â part of Israelâs objection to Hamas taking part in the election. The movementâs participation in the elections was one of the reasons cited by Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharonâs office for not allowing Palestinians living in occupied East Jerusalem to participate in Januaryâs election. âIn the past, we have allowed Palestinians to vote in post offices but not this time,â an official told AFP on condition of anonymity.
Abbas said the Palestinian leadership would carefully consider its next step, saying it had yet to be officially informed of Israelâs decision. âThe Palestinian leadership will study this issue before making a response, for the responsibility is enormous,â he said.
Hamas spokesman Sami Abu Zuhhri said the Palestinian Authority should âmultiply its contacts with the parties concerned to facilitate the holding of elections as was the case in the presidential election.â The main Palestinian factions signed a truce back in March during talks hosted by Cairo. While the truce has largely held, there has been a recent spike in the firing of Qassams, rockets named after Hamasâ armed wing.