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Abbas: No Palestinian elections if eastern Jerusalem residents can’t vote

Legislative and presidential elections are needed to “restore democracy,” says P.A. leader Mahmoud Abbas, but won’t be called if Israel does not permit eastern Jerusalem residents to participate.

Palestinian Authority leader Mahmoud Abbas meets with members of the Executive Committee of the Palestine Liberation Organization in the West Bank city of Ramallah on Oct. 3, 2019. Photo by Flash90.
Palestinian Authority leader Mahmoud Abbas meets with members of the Executive Committee of the Palestine Liberation Organization in the West Bank city of Ramallah on Oct. 3, 2019. Photo by Flash90.

Palestinian Authority leader Mahmoud Abbas said on Tuesday that whether or not he issues a presidential decree declaring Palestinian elections depends on Israel granting permission for eastern Jerusalem residents to participate.

Speaking during a dinner at the Franciscan Monastery in Bethlehem, Abbas said “the Palestinian factions agreed on what we agree with, but one very important obstacle remained, namely, the holding of the elections in east Jerusalem,” according to the Xinhua news agency.

The Palestinian leader also said that legislative and presidential elections are needed “to restore democracy,” adding that “we cannot remain all this time without elections and without democracy.”

“We believe in democracy and believe in the liberation of Palestine soon,” he said.

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