The Diplomat
The European Union, through the High Representative for Foreign Policy, Josep Borrell, as well as Spain, France, Germany and Italy, in a joint communiqué, yesterday expressed their disappointment at the decision to postpone the Palestinian parliamentary elections scheduled for the 22nd.
Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas announced on Thursday night that the elections will be postponed until Israel allows residents of East Jerusalem to vote. The decision was taken at a meeting of Palestinian leaders, following the Israeli government’s refusal to allow polls to be held in East Jerusalem.
Borrell called the postponement “disappointing” and called on Israel to allow elections to be held throughout the Palestinian territory.
A joint communiqué issued yesterday by Spain, together with France, Germany and Italy, said: “We firmly believe that strong, legitimate, representative and accountable democratic institutions remain fundamental for Palestinian self-determination and state-building, as well as for the future of the two-state solution.
Both Borrell and the four major EU countries urge the Palestinian Authority to establish a new electoral timetable as soon as possible, assure that they will support “free, fair and inclusive elections” and call on all actors in the region to take constructive steps in this regard.
Mahmoud Abbas reiterated on Thursday that elections “must include all Palestinian territories” and called on the international community to “continue to put pressure on Israel to stop its aggressive practice”, the official Palestinian news agency Wafa reported.
He called for “an end to Israel’s rejection of its obligations under signed agreements” and stressed that “Jerusalem is the basis of our existence and the jewel in our crown (…). We will not give up an inch of dust from its soil”.
The Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) criticised the Palestinian Authority’s decision to delay the vote and described the move as “a coup d’état”, according to The Times of Israel.
The Islamist movement said it knew “in advance” that the electoral process would be interrupted “due to other interests that have nothing to do with Jerusalem”. “The Fatah movement and the Palestinian president bear full responsibility for this decision and its consequences.
