Palestinian Election Commission Quits Over Qureia Interference

2006-01-04

The Associated Press - Haaretz

www.haaretzdaily.com/ hasen/spages/ 666267.html

The Palestinian election commission sent a letter to Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas Wednesday tendering its resignation, charging that Prime Minister Ahmed Qureia is interfering in the process, election officials told The Associated Press.

Parliamentary elections are set for Jan. 25, but there have been calls for a delay because of disorder and chaos, especially in the Gaza Strip. Veteran Fatah leaders, including Qureia, have been pressing for postponement, partly because the militant Hamas is poised to score significant gains.

Earlier on Wednesday, Jordan's King Abdullah II on Wednesday urged Israel to allow Palestinians in East Jerusalem to vote in Palestinian parliamentary elections scheduled for later this month.

In a statement issued by the palace in Amman, Abdullah "stressed the necessity of having no obstacles in front of Palestinians of East Jerusalem participating in the vote."

Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas said for the first time Monday that he would delay the upcoming elections if Israel bars Jerusalem Arabs from voting.

The king issued the statement after talks with Abbas in the Jordanian capital. The Jordanian ruler called the elections "an important step on the way to ensuring democracy and reforms in the Palestinian territories."

Abdullah also called on "all Palestinian factions to work collectively to end the deteriorating security situation in the territories" and "to work on unifying Palestinian efforts."

Abbas, whose Fatah Party is roiled by infighting, accusations of corruption and fears of an electoral drubbing by the militant Islamic group Hamas, said Monday the vote might be delayed if Israel carries out its threat to bar Palestinians from voting in east Jerusalem, which Palestinians seek as the capital of a future state.

This election will mark the first time that Hamas - which calls for Israel's destruction and is responsible for dozens of deadly suicide bombings - will field candidates. Israel has called for the Islamic group to be disqualified.

Abdullah said Jordan stood ready to "support the efforts of the Palestinian Authority to reinforce security, impose law and order, and build up Palestinian institutions necessary before the legislative elections."

Abbas, who spoke to Abdullah at the end of a tour of Gulf Arab states, said the Palestinian Authority "will work on consolidating the security situation and impose its control on the Palestinian territories which will be appropriate to creating an atmosphere of political pluralism and allowing the participation of all in building an honorable life for the Palestinian people."

Source: IMRA – Independent Media Review and Analysis