Olmert: Cabinet to OK J'lem vote without Hamas
Acting prime minister tells U.S. secretary of state government set to approve east Jerusalem vote for Palestinian residents, Hamas prohibited from participation; earlier, Defense Minister Mofaz says east Jerusalem residents to vote in Palestinian elections
Acting Prime Minister Ehud Olmert spoke with U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice Tuesday, who called to inquire about Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's condition.
Olmert told Rice the government is set to approve the issue of allowing the Palestinian residents of east Jerusalem to vote in the upcoming PA elections at various postal branches, as was allowed in 1996 and 2005.
He also added that as in previous elections, terror organizations and their representatives will not be allowed to participate.
Campaiging in Jerusalem Monday (Photo: Reuters)
Olmert added that Israel is concerned with Hamas' increase in power, the continuation of terror and PA Chairman Mahmoud Abbas' powerless efforts. He said Israel would not allow the PA any excuse to postpone upcoming elections, as well as evade commitments to disarm Hamas and its infrastructures, before and after elections.
Earlier, Defense Minister Shaul Mofaz announced that east Jerusalem residents would be allowed to vote in PA elections scheduled for January 25.
"We are holding an extensive discussion today that will address all the issues in question. We will allow the vote and be prepared for any outcome," Mofaz said, hinting to the possibility that Hamas gains in strength.
"We will not interfere with the Palestinian elections and allow them to take place," Mofaz stressed. "The Palestinians should also be asked whether they want the vote to be held on time.
There is currently a feeling of anarchy and lack of control in the PA, most notably in the Strip. We need to wait and see how capable the PA is of taking control of things and operating against terror organizations," he concluded.
Mixed responses
Officially, Palestinian officials are satisfied with the decision to comply with their demand, although it has pulled the rug under Palestinian Chairman Mahmoud Abbas' plan to blame Israel for the postponement of elections.
National Union members were quick to slam the decision, and said that "the Left, headed by Kadima, knows no boundaries for its cynicism and hypocrisy. On the one hand they speak of Jerusalem's historical importance and commit themselves to its unity, and on the other they allow Israeli-Arabs from east Jerusalem to vote for the Palestinian Authority elections," a party official said.
Gideon Sa'ar, chairman of the Likud faction, told Ynet: "this is a bad and harming decision. It damages the status of Israel's capital and allows a vote that includes Hamas on Israeli territory," he explained.
"This will cause damage, in particular after we have succeeded in adding Hamas to the United States and EU's list of terror organizations," Sa'ar added.
From the other side, Labor Knesset Member Ophir Paz-Pines also blasted the decision, saying that "the government has made every possible mistake, harmed Israel's international status and strengthened Hamas."
"Instead of wrestling with the PA, the government would be wise to assist Abbas with holding elections as scheduled," Paz-Pines added.
Meanwhile, Shinui MK Avraham Poraz lauded the announcement, and said that "this is the correct decision."
"It's unthinkable to have a situation where a person in a democratic state cannot vote. Had they not allowed them to vote in PA elections, they would have to let them vote for the Knesset," Poraz said.
Officials to debate matter
Later Tuesday, senior Israeli officials will convene to discuss the controversial issue. Representatives of all relevant government offices and state bodies are expected to attend the meeting, to be held at Defense Minister Shaul Mofaz's office, including intelligence, Shin Bet, IDF, Foreign Ministry, Defense Ministry and Interior Ministry officials.
The participants formulated their recommendation on the issue Tuesday and will forward them to Acting Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, who will make the final decision on the matter.
The meeting is held ahead of a planned visit by American officials David Welsh and Elliot Abrams to the region, scheduled for Wednesday.
Israel has been debating the question of the east Jerusalem vote for several weeks now, amid concerns that banning Hamas from campaigning in the capital by withholding elections would provide Palestinian Chairman Mahmoud Abbas with an excuse to postpone the vote.
Officials believe that while Abbas' true motive for pushing back elections would be Fatah's fears from Hamas' rise in power, the chairman would still be able to point the finger at Israel
Notably, during the 1996 Palestinian elections, east Jerusalem residents were allowed to vote at polling stations in post offices in the capital. However, Israeli sources stressed that the situation in the upcoming elections is different because this time around Hamas is running for parliament.
The government is reluctant to see a terror organization participating in elections held on Israel's territory, an official explained.
Palestinian Chairman Abbas on Tuesday announced that American officials already assured him that elections will be allowed in the capital.
"I have American guarantees that elections and the campaign itself will be held in Jerusalem. Based on these assurances, I declare that the vote will take place as scheduled," Abbas said.
State department officials refused to confirm the Palestinian chairman's remarks, saying that the issue was for Israel and the PA to resolve.
Attila Somfalvi, Ilan Marciano, Efrat Weiss and sharon Roffe-Ofir contributed to the report
