“Due to the Israeli reoccupation, obstruction and closures, it is impossible to convene the election on January 20…”

Palestinians Postpone Vote
Palestinians decided on Sunday to postpone indefinitely a general election scheduled for January, saying it was difficult to hold a vote while Israeli forces continued to occupy West Bank cities.

``Due to the Israeli reoccupation, obstruction and closures, it is impossible to convene the election on January 20,'' cabinet minister Saeb Erekat told Reuters after a Palestinian government meeting on the vote.

Earlier this month, Arafat told Reuters the January ballot would have to be postponed because Palestinians would need at least one month and possibly up to three months free of Israeli military occupation to allow for campaigning.

A Palestinian cabinet statement on Sunday said elections ``would be held immediately after occupation forces pull back'' to positions held before the uprising began in September 2000.

NO ILLUSIONS

Israel has said there can be no such withdrawal until the revolt and attacks against Israelis end. It sent troops into West Bank cities this year after Palestinian suicide bombings against Israelis.

A senior Israeli official said Israel had harboured no illusions that an election -- which Arafat had been expected to win -- would have led to real reform in a Palestinian leadership it accuses of complicity in violence.

Ordinary Palestinians welcomed the postponement of the vote.

``This is the right decision because how can people move while tanks are in towns? How can candidates move freely,'' asked Nael Arar, a teacher from the West Bank city of Ramallah.


http://www.nytimes.com/reuters/international/international-mideast.html