Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas insinuated elections in the Palestinian territories would not go ahead as planned in a televised speech, Thursday.
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In his remarks, Abbas claimed Jerusalem had relayed the message Palestinian elections could not be held in the east of the city because a new Israeli coalition government had yet to be formed.
While Abbas did not explicitly say elections would be canceled, the assessment is an official announcement to that end will be made in the coming hours.
"European Union representatives confirmed to us that that Israeli side is not allowing elections to be held in east Jerusalem. The Europeans said there is no use, and the Israelis will never allow elections. Our true response to Israel's refusal is that no one will laugh at us. This is idle chatter that will not work with us," he said.
"We sent the Palestinian foreign minister to Europe, and we said we are waiting for an answer from the Israelis on the holding of elections in east Jerusalem. We issued presidential decrees, and we waited for a response to holding them [the elections] in Jerusalem, and we got no answer."
The PA president further accused Israel of attacking political activists in east Jerusalem and preventing them from campaigning there.
As for the recent riots in the capital, Abbas said, "These events that the entire world saw showed that our great people can take on the occupation forces and its intentions of occupation. The world saw the violence of the Israeli government and the settlers, those who called 'Death to Arabs.' I say 'no' to those who claim a unified Jerusalem is the Israeli capital."
A Palestinian journalist with ties to Hamas blasted Abbas' speech, which he called "misleading."
The speech was "a pathetic attempt to escape elections because they don't guarantee him victory."
Earlier Thursday, Fatah sources told the London-based The New Arab media outlet the elections would likely be postponed indefinitely and the parties would instead be invited to establish a national unity government.
During the day, Palestinian media outlets reported Abbas had met with former Palestinian Prime Minister Salam Fayyad to discuss the establishment to that end.
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