Israel is reconsidering its threat to ban Palestinians from voting in eastern Jerusalem in the upcoming Palestinian legislative elections.
An official Israeli governmental source told AFP that Israel will make its final decision after Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud ‘Abbas confirms that the vote will take place as originally scheduled, on January 25, 2006.
Israel originally said it would not allow the Arab residents of eastern Jerusalem to vote there, because the Hamas organization is participating in the elections for the first time, and Israel does not want to help Hamas gain power.
The United States and Israel have designated Hamas as a terrorist organization.
But under American pressure, it appears the new position of Ariel Sharon’s government is not to allow the Palestinians to use Israel as an excuse to postpone the balloting.
Palestinian leaders have threatened to delay the election altogether if Sharon bans voting in eastern Jerusalem.
Observers say the Fatah leadership wants to postpone the elections in order to buy time and increase its gains before the vote.