Abbas: U.S. promised me J'lem elections
PA Chairman says Washington delivered elections assurances over east Jerusalem; seeks similar promises from Israel
PA Chairman Mahmoud Abbas told reporters that the United States has given assurances that the Palestinian elections would be able to take place in east Jerusalem, though he protested what he said was a changing policy on the part of Israel.
"One day I'm told we can hold elections in east Jerusalem, and once I'm told I can't," protested PA Chairman Mahmoud Abbas at a Gaza press conference.
The PA chairman revealed that "today, for the first time, I received an assurance from the Americans, saying that the elections could take place in east Jerusalem."
However, he added that "up to now we haven't heard any assurances from the Israelis over this issue."
Welcomed assurances
The PA chairman welcomed the assurances from Washington, saying: "With this situation, there is nothing preventing the elections from going ahead, and they will go ahead. I call on the Palestinian people to take part in the shaping of democracy so we can prove to the world that we deserve this democracy."
Answering a question on Israel's position over the elections in east Jerusalem, Abbas said: "I said that the Americans promised and gave guarantees... which we trust. Regarding the Israeli position, we have started to operate in Jerusalem in accordance with Israeli law. We need to create precedents and work according to them."
Checkpoints are no obstacle
He added that "it's true that there are checkpoints in the territories, but these are checkpoints in between communities. These checkpoints have to be lifted, but they won't prevent or delay the elections process."
Abbas added: “The hudna (ceasefire with Israel) must continue in 2006; it is a gift we are giving to our people.”
Abbas also condemned the recent Qassam rocket fire towards Israel, saying, “I want one person to tell me what good these rockets bring; they fall in our territory and cause Israel to respond and kill our people.”
