PA: Israel disrupting J'lem campaign

Despite agreement between police, Fatah, Palestinian Prime Minister Ahmed Qureia not satisfied; claims Israel still preventing election campaigns in east Jerusalem

Ali Waked
Published: 01.09.06, 14:58 / Israel News

Palestinian Authority officials claimed Monday morning that Israel's decision to allow the Palestinians to hold election campaigns in east Jerusalem was only a partial decision.

The officials charged they had still not

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heard Israel's clear stance on the participation of east Jerusalem residents in the elections.

Following an agreement reached Sunday between police representatives, Fatah and PA representatives in Jerusalem, the election campaigns of various parties participating in upcoming general elections are expected to continue Monday.

Police agreed to allow the Palestinians to hold election campaigns in the city on the condition that armed organizations and members of terror organizations would not be allowed to participate in the elections.

In addition, police representatives demanded that election posters only be posted in places permitted by the police, and that any planned election rally would be coordinated with Israel.

However, Palestinian Prime Minister Ahmed Qureia said the Palestinians have still not heard Israel's stance on the participation of Jerusalem's Palestinian residents in the elections.

In spite of the police decision, PA officials believe Israel is still preventing the participation of organizations in the elections and is imposing conditions for holding rallies and free campaigns.

Hamas continuing aggressive strategy

PA officials hope that in the near future, once the situation in Israel is clarified, a free participation of the city's residents in the elections would be enabled, to the discontentment of PA elections opposers headed by veteran Fatah members.

Meanwhile, Fatah only began its real election

campaign this week, while Hamas has already held dozens of rallies all over the West Bank and Gaza Strip.

Hamas members are continuing with an aggressive strategy for their election campaign. The movement's leaders in the Gaza Strip, Ismail Haniya and Dr. Mahmoud Azahar, have stated over the past two days that they would not hold any negotiations with Israel and that the only negotiations to be held would be through a rifle barrel.

Hamas officials said the decision whether to hold elections or not would affect the return to an armed struggle. Haniya added that his movement would not concede the demand to release Palestinian prisoners.

If there is need, he said, Hamas would not hesitate and would kidnap Israeli soldiers in order to negotiate their release in return for the release of Palestinian prisoners.

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