Several Fatah committees are requesting a postponement of the general elections in the Palestinian Authority (P.A.) in order to smooth out problems in the movement.
The elections are currently scheduled for January 25, 2006.
Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud ‘Abbas implied that the P.A. might reconsider holding the elections next month if Israel bars residents of eastern Jerusalem from voting.
“This is a critical issue of great importance to the Palestinian people,” he said.
‘Abbas said eastern Jerusalem residents have the right to vote, as they did in the 1996 elections.
According to the Palestinian news agency WAFA, ‘Abbas met with the Fatah Central Committee in Ramallah on Wednesday and discussed preparations for conducting the elections as scheduled.
But several Fatah committees in the Gaza Strip are seeking to postpone the elections in order to give the party an opportunity to “sort things out,” the Palestinian Al-Quds reported.
Fatah sources said Israel’s preventing eastern Jerusalem residents from voting is an excuse to delay the poll, because observers are anticipating a poor performance for Fatah.
Party members fear a recent split in the party will ward off potential voters for Fatah and increase the gains of their rival, Hamas.
Fatah has split into two official lists – one is Fatah, which is dominated by the Old Guard of the movement, and the other is called Al-Mustaqbal, led by Marwan Barghouthi.
Hamas, which is participating in the elections for the first time, is opposed to postponing the elections.
A poll published on Thursday by the Palestinian Center for Policy and Survey Research suggests that Hamas will win 41 percent of the votes in the upcoming elections, as opposed to Fatah winning 21% of the votes.