Egyptian officials: Palestinians plan to call off elections

Egyptian officials say the Palestinian Authority plans to call off its first elections in 15 years, citing Israel’s refusal to allow voting in East Jerusalem.

The decision would effectively grant Israel a veto over the holding of elections, though PA President Mahmoud Abbas could also benefit from canceling a vote in which his fractured Fatah party is expected to lose power and influence to Hamas. The East Jerusalem issue is widely seen as an excuse for Abbas to cancel the vote.

Israel told European ambassadors today that it would not prevent Palestinian elections, but authorities have yet to say whether they will allow voting in East Jerusalem. Israel’s silence on the issue indicates that it would rather be blamed for a postponement than see elections that further empower Hamas.

An Egyptian diplomat and an intelligence official say they have been briefed on the Palestinians’ decision to cancel the election, which will be announced Thursday at a meeting of Palestinian factions. They say Egypt is in talks with Israel to reach a compromise to allow the vote but those efforts have so far failed.