Palestinian Authority chairman gives a speech in Ramallah on the upcoming Palestinian elections • "They claim it is impossible because there is no government in Israel," he said.
Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas // Photo: AFP
Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas delivered a speech today (Thursday) amid estimates that the Palestinian elections would be postponed. On Palestinian television, Abu Mazen did not announce a postponement of the election, but it is estimated that an order on the matter will be published in the coming hours.
"EU representatives confirmed to us that the Israeli side does not allow elections to be held in East Jerusalem. The Europeans said there was no use and the Israelis would never allow elections," Abu Mazen said in a speech in the Muqata.
"We sent the Palestinian foreign minister to Europe and said we were waiting for a response from the Israelis regarding the holding of elections in East Jerusalem. We issued presidential orders for the elections, and we waited for a response on their existence in Jerusalem and received no response," Abu Mazen said.
In addition, the chairman of the PA claimed that Israel attacked activists in the east of the capital and did not allow them to carry out activities as part of the campaign.
Abbas also referred to the events in Jerusalem and said: "These events seen by the whole world, showed that our mighty people can the forces of occupation and the intentions of the occupation. The world saw the violence of the Israeli government and settlers. Those who called death to the Arabs. Israel".
Earlier, Fatah sources told al-Arabi al-Jadid newspaper about Abu Mazen's speech: the direction is to postpone the election to an indefinite date and an invitation to form a national unity government.
