Abbas: Jerusalem vote assured by US

by ALJ

Mon, Jan 9, 2006 10:28PM

Mahmoud Abbas says the US government has assured him that voting in a 25 January legislative poll would be allowed in East Jerusalem, despite Israel's objection to Hamas participating.

The Palestinian president said on Monday: "Today I received American assurances that the campaigning and the elections will take place in Jerusalem."

Abbas's announcement alleviated some fears that he was planning to call off the vote under pressure from members of his Fatah party, who were concerned that the popular Hamas group would embarrass Fatah at the polls.

More
http://english.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/B4CAA326-BF34-4726-9B61-75489623ECE5.htm

Add Your Comments

§Abbas: U.S. gave assurances on Palestinian vote in Jerusalem

by Haaretz (reposted)

Mon, Jan 9, 2006 10:29PM

Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas on Monday said the United States has assured him that, despite Israeli misgivings, East Jerusalem Palestinians will be allowed to vote in the city and the Palestinian Authority elections will therefore go ahead as scheduled on January 25.

He added, however, that the elections would not take place if Israel decides to prevent voting in Jerusalem.

"We are on the way to elections and there's no doubt about it, but if something happens along the way, we'll decide how to act. We have not heard from the Israeli side anything to make us certain voting will take place in Jerusalem. We've only heard vague things from them," Abbas said.

More
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/667685.html

Add a Comment

Support Independent Media

We are 100% volunteer and depend on your participation to sustain our efforts!