RAMALLAH — The Palestinian Authority is expected to cancel the upcoming
elections for the legislature.
PA officials said PA Chairman Mahmoud Abbas has quietly agreed to
postpone or cancel elections for the Palestinian Legislative Council
scheduled for Jan. 25. The officials said Abbas has accepted a demand by
Fatah leaders, who cite internecine violence in the West Bank and Gaza
Strip.
On Wednesday, Abbas met the Fatah Central Committee to discuss
postponing the elections, Middle East Newsline reported. Officials said most of the committee supported
such a move amid polls that show Hamas beating Fatah in elections.
"Nothing is really ready at this point," an official said. "We have not
managed to register voters. Candidates have not been able to campaign. The
entire Palestine is burning."
Officials said Abbas could issue an announcement on the cancellation of
PLC elections by Jan. 1. They said Abbas would blame Israel for the
cancellation, citing the refusal of the government of Prime Minister Ariel
Sharon to allow Palestinians to vote in Jerusalem.
"If the Israelis insist on not allowing us to conduct the elections in
Jerusalem, then there will be no elections at all," Palestinian Information
Minister Nabil Shaath said.
Hamas and other Palestinian political parties have urged Abbas not to
cancel elections. But Fatah leaders, including most PA ministers, want to
suspend elections amid forecasts of a major Hamas victory.
The European Union and the United States have raised the prospect that
Hamas participation in the elections could result in a suspension of
billions of dollars of aid to the PA. Both Brussels and Washington have
called on Hamas to surrender its weapons and pledge to turn into a political
party.
On Wednesday, Palestinian violence continued throughout the Gaza Strip.
A Western school principal and his deputy were abducted as they drove to the
American School north of Gaza City.
