The Hindu : International : Preparations for Palestinian polls gather pace

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Nov 17, 2004

International

International

Preparations for Palestinian polls gather pace

By Atul Aneja

AMMAN (JORDAN), NOV. 16. Preparations for electing a new Palestinian President are shaping up, and are likely to gather momentum with the visit to Ramallah next week by the U.S. Secretary of State.

The interim President, Rawhi Fattouh, who took over on November 11, soon after the news of Yasser Arafat's death broke, has announced that elections to the Palestinian Authority presidency would be held on January 9. The election campaign will begin on December 27 and close the day before the poll is held.

Appeal to U.S.

Under Palestinian law, elections must be held within 60 days of a President's incapacitation or death. The Palestinian caretaker Government has called upon the European Union and the United States to stop Israelis from obstructing the conduct of a free, fair and complete vote.

Meanwhile, differences between the Palestinians and Israelis over the right to vote of the 228,000 Palestinians in East Jerusalem appear to have been resolved.

With the two sides contesting the status of East Jerusalem, the Israeli Foreign Minister, Silvan Shalom, said that Palestinian residents would be allowed to vote outside the city limits. The Palestinian Cabinet Minister, Saeb Erekat, told CNN that the U.S. President, George Bush, must put pressure on Israel against interfering with the election. Youth's aspirations

Analysts point out that with the exit of Yasser Arafat as the undisputed leader, Mahmoud Abbas, the current Chairman of the Palestine Liberation Organisation (PLO) and the Prime Minister, Ahmed Qurei, are grappling with the aspirations of a new generation of Palestinians to participate in decision-making.

"A majority of Palestinians are under the age of 25 and are looking for younger representatives. In all probabilities we are likely to see the old guard working out a new coalition with younger political activists in the coming days", Daoud Kuttab, a Ramallah-based columnist told The Hindu.

As the new leadership looks to the future, two other issues are being prioritised.

First, the caretaker leadership is looking at ways that would cement a ceasefire with the Israelis. An Egyptian delegation led by the Intelligence Minister, Omar Suleiman, is reportedly arriving for discussions with the Palestinians and Israelis on November 24. Egypt is expected to invite all Palestinian groups for a meeting on its soil.

Second, the caretaker Government is examining ways to address the demand of the militant groups, Hamas and Islamic Jihad for "joint leadership" till elections are held. Hamas is also calling for municipal elections. After talks with Mr. Abbas on Sunday, a Hamas spokesman said, "We are opposed to any monopoly on power".

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