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Palestinian Official Says Israel Wants to Create "Fierce Civil War"

Posted on: Sunday, 25 December 2005, 12:00 CST

Text of report by Palestinian radio Voice of Palestine on 25 December

The [Palestinian] National Authority has underlined its commitment to holding the legislative elections on schedule despite the Israeli obstacles. Sa'ib Urayqat, head of the PLO Negotiations Affairs Department, has said that the National Authority is committed to the date set for the elections, without talking about any postponement. He added that Israel is spreading rumours that the elections will be postponed in order to drag our people into a fierce civil war. He noted that Israel still insists on preventing the holding of elections in occupied Jerusalem.

The office of the Israeli prime minister has said that Tel Aviv has not made a decision yet as to the participation or non- participation of the citizens of occupied Jerusalem in the coming elections. Palestinian and Israeli press sources said that the USA has told the National Authority and Israel that there is a need to reach an agreement regarding the participation of the citizens of Jerusalem in the elections. The sources added that US Security Coordinator Keith Dayton has told the two sides that there is a need to settle all points of disagreement and to facilitate holding the elections on schedule. The sources noted that the USA believes that postponing the elections is unthinkable.

Source: BBC Monitoring Middle East

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