Abbas announces election delay

Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas announced Saturday that parliamentary elections scheduled for July 17 would be delayed. Abbas said his decision to postpone the vote would be to allow time to resolve a dispute over proposed voting law reforms. He gave no new date for the election and said he would announce it in a future presidential address, despite reports by the Palestinian al-Ayyam newspaper that elections would be moved forward to November. Besides enabling Abbas to solve a dispute reagrding the voting law reforms, it would also provide him with additional time to strengthen his Fatah party against Hamas, who has proven to be a challenging rival in local elections recently - an indication of a strong performance in the upcoming national vote. While Abbas has requested all candidates compete at a national level, some Fatah legislators have called for two thirds of the lawmakers to be chosen in districts and only one third on a national level. By delaying elections, Abbas would now have the opportunity to reevaluate the reform once again, despite claims his decision was based upon legal concern and not due to political considerations. Abbas, Hamas agreed upon the election delay Meeting in Gaza last week, the Supreme Joint Committee of Palestinian Organizations agreed to recommend to their groups to push off the general election until after the disengagement plan. The agreement is part of a series of understandings between Hamas and Fatah with regard to local elections in several districts in Gaza. Fatah has called for recall elections in several Gaza districts, a move Hamas dismisses as an attempt to undo the group's solid victory. Elections have caused significant friction between the parties, and was the reason behind the massive mortar attack on Gush Katif and Sderot early in May. In addition, Palestinian sources told Ynet that an Egyptian security detail mediated the dispute and pushed both sides to reach an understanding. Palestinian Authority officials had denied reports of any Egyptian intervention. Deputy for Abbas? Meanwhile, PA Chairman Mahmoud Abbas, following a heart procedure earlier this week in Jordan, said Friday he plans to appoint a deputy, signaling that he is preparing to groom a successor. Information Minister Nabil Shaath said Abbas wants someone to share responsibilities with and to stand in for him when he is abroad. Age also was a concern, Shaath said. "He is now 70, and as he himself has said, souls are in the hands of God," Shaath told The Associated Press, adding that Abbas feels in good health, despite the angiogram he underwent in Jordan on Wednesday. Prime Minister Ariel Sharon called Abbas on Friday and wished him good health, Sharon's office said. The two leaders are scheduled to meet on June 21 to discuss implementation of a truce package, including the handover of more West Bank towns to Palestinian control. - Reuters contributed to this report

Abbas announces election delay

PA chairman officially announce delay of July parliamentary vote, says new date to be given in future presidential announcement