January 10, 2006	Tuesday	Zilhaj 9, 1426

JERUSALEM, Jan 9: Israel has agreed in principle to allow Arab residents of east Jerusalem to vote in this month’s Palestinian parliamentary elections, Defence Minister Shaul Mofaz said on Monday.

“We have agreed in principle that the same rules which were applied in the previous elections will also apply this time,” Mr Mofaz said on public television.

Israel, which occupied and then annexed east Jerusalem in 1967, allowed residents to vote in post offices at the last legislative election a decade ago and at the election for the president of the Palestinian Authority in January last year.

Palestinian leader Mahmud Abbas, who has previously threatened to cancel the whole election if east Jerusalem is barred from the process, also said that he had received assurances from Washington that would guarantee voting in the holy city.

Israel, angered by the participation of Hamas, had initially said that it would not allow any voting in east Jerusalem.

Earlier in the day, the Israeli government gave the green light for Palestinian candidates to campaign in east Jerusalem.

Public Security Minister Gideon Ezra said candidates would be able to canvass in the Arab section of the city, but only with permission and ruled out authorization for anyone from the Hamas.

An Israeli foreign ministry spokesman merely said it was hoped a solution would be agreed soon.

Stopping short of confirming that voting could take place, Mr Ezra said that ‘all those who want to campaign in Jerusalem must submit a preliminary request to the police in the city’.

“Anyone who is a supporter of Hamas will not receive permission,” he added.

Israel initially said it would ban voting, angered by the participation of Hamas, which has been behind the majority of attacks during the uprising and refuses to recognize the Jewish state’s right to exist.

Yet under heavy US pressure and wary of being blamed if Mr Abbas were to scrap the ballot, the government has since indicated it may change its mind.

Foreign ministry spokesman Mark Regev said a US delegation was expected in the region at the end of the week for discussions on the issue.

“We believe it’s possible to find a solution.”

Mr Shaath said the Palestinians had already been told by Washington that voting would be allowed in the holy city, although there was no confirmation from Israel.

“We are going to wait until Jan 24 for an Israeli confirmation that the elections can take place in east Jerusalem. If we don’t get such a confirmation the elections won’t take place anywhere,” he said.

Information about authorized campaigning had little filtered onto the streets of the Old City, where some feigned ignorance and others believed Israel had already agreed that local residents could vote in Jerusalem.—AFP