JERUSALEM, Dec 21: Israel said on Wednesday it would ban East Jerusalem Arabs from voting in a Palestinian election next month if Hamas takes part — a move Palestinian officials said could delay the vote.

Israel allowed Palestinian residents of East Jerusalem to vote in Palestinian Authority (PA) elections in 1996 and at the start of the year when they elected Mahmoud Abbas president.

But a spokesman for Prime Minister Ariel Sharon said Israel would not allow voting in Jerusalem for the Jan 25 poll because Hamas, which calls for Israel’s destruction and has spearheaded a suicide bombing campaign, is running for the first time.

“There is no reason whatsoever we should assist a terrorist organization on the ballot to gain victory. This would be like letting a Trojan horse into our city,” spokesman Raanan Gissin said.

Palestinian officials said the election may be delayed if Israel prevents voting by East Jerusalem residents.

“We cannot hold elections anywhere if the Palestinians in Jerusalem are not allowed to vote,” said senior Palestinian official Nabil Shaath.

Mr Abbas denounced Israel’s decision saying ‘this is a very dangerous situation’, adding that he would ‘study’ the issue.

A Hamas spokesman said the group, which is expected to make a strong showing in the poll, demanded it be held on time. He would not specify whether that position would remain the same if East Jerusalem Palestinians could not vote.

Palestinian residents of East Jerusalem carry Israeli identity cards, but see themselves as the citizens of a future Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital.

PRESSURE FOR DELAY: Mr Abbas has repeatedly said he does not want to postpone the vote, but has been under pressure for a delay from some Palestinian officials due to a split in his ruling Fatah movement that has strengthened Hamas.

Hamas’s corruption-free reputation and extensive charity network mean its popularity is rising among Palestinians.

Its strong showing in the first three rounds of municipal elections in the West Bank and Gaza Strip, winning in several major cities including the Fatah stronghold of Nablus, has prompted concern about a Hamas victory in Israel and abroad.

Israel’s Yedioth Ahronoth newspaper said on Wednesday that Palestinian leaders, Israelis and the international community were seeking a reason to postpone the election in order to prevent a possible Hamas win. It said Israel’s policy on East Jerusalem might serve that purpose.

“If Hamas gains victory, that would mean the end of the political (peace) process”, Mr Gissin, Sharon’s spokesman, said. “It would also, I’d regrettably say, be the end of the Palestinian Authority as the sole sovereign power of the Palestinians”.

Israel says all Palestinian political activity in East Jerusalem was banned under the 1993 interim Oslo peace accords. Palestinians dispute this and say Jerusalem residents should play an active role in Palestinian affairs. —Reuters