The United States added to the uncertainty on Tuesday by releasing unclear statements regarding its position on whether Jerusalem residents should be able to vote and where. Though Israel, supported by the Oslo Accords, remains steadfast - so far - in refusing to allow voting in Jerusalem, it was reported today that U.S. President George Bush favors the PA's demand to allow Jerusalem ballots.
Does this mean that Arab residents of Jerusalem should vote in Jerusalem, or rather in nearby Ramallah, or possibly by mail? A Reuters story reported, in the name of a White House official, that Bush "thinks Palestinians should be allowed to vote in East Jerusalem." Several Israeli media reported the same.
However, State Department Spokesman Sean McCormack said otherwise. In his Tuesday press briefing, McCormack said only that Israel and the PA should be able to "work out accommodations" to allow the Jerusalem residents to vote. He was referring to the type of accommodations in effect in the only other PA election, held in 1996, which enabled a small number of Arabs to vote in Jerusalem post offices and the remainder to vote by mail or in Ramallah.
The Oslo Accords, signed in 1993, state that PLO/PA political activities are prohibited in Jerusalem. Similarly, parties, such as Hamas that do not recognize Israel's right to exist are outlawed and may not take part in the PA. Despite this, the U.S. has not taken a stand against Hamas participation in the elections, and Israel has said only that it will not help facilitate elections in which Hamas takes part.
PA Chairman Mahmoud Abbas (Abu Mazen) said on Monday that he might postpone the elections, currently set for Jan. 25, altogether. He said it was because of Israel's policy on the Jerusalem balloting, but it is well-known that Abbas - head of Fatah - is looking for an excuse to push off the elections because of the great electoral support enjoyed by Hamas.
Eyad Sarraj, a PA political analyst and an election candidate, told the Christian Science Monitor that the PA's lack of law enforcement in Gaza and the talk about voting problems in eastern Jerusalem are calculated moves by Abbas to provide "excuses" to delay elections in which he knows Fatah will fair poorly.
Chief PA negotiator and spokesman Saeb Erekat said, that if Israel provides the same voting access as in 1996, the elections should be held as planned. Erekat also acknowledged that there was much violence on Gaza streets, saying that while "every effort is being made to contain" it, the PA is not sure who is responsible for the rash of shootings and government office takeovers by masked gunmen.
Four foreigners have been kidnapped and released by Arab gunmen in Gaza over the past week. "It's impossible to say who has guns in Gaza anymore," Erekat said. "The ballots are the only thing that can stop the violence at this point."
Israeli police blocked two PA Arabs from electioneering in eastern Jerusalem on Tuesday. They were briefly arrested, questioned, and released on bail for having taken part in what the Oslo Accords term illegal Palestinian Authority activity in Jerusalem.
Two State Department officials, Assistant Secretary David Welch and the National Security Council's Elliot Abrams, will arrive in Israel and will hold talks on Thursday with Israeli and PA officials regarding the elections and the planned "free passage" from Gaza to Judea and Samaria.
Does this mean that Arab residents of Jerusalem should vote in Jerusalem, or rather in nearby Ramallah, or possibly by mail? A Reuters story reported, in the name of a White House official, that Bush "thinks Palestinians should be allowed to vote in East Jerusalem." Several Israeli media reported the same.
However, State Department Spokesman Sean McCormack said otherwise. In his Tuesday press briefing, McCormack said only that Israel and the PA should be able to "work out accommodations" to allow the Jerusalem residents to vote. He was referring to the type of accommodations in effect in the only other PA election, held in 1996, which enabled a small number of Arabs to vote in Jerusalem post offices and the remainder to vote by mail or in Ramallah.
The Oslo Accords, signed in 1993, state that PLO/PA political activities are prohibited in Jerusalem. Similarly, parties, such as Hamas that do not recognize Israel's right to exist are outlawed and may not take part in the PA. Despite this, the U.S. has not taken a stand against Hamas participation in the elections, and Israel has said only that it will not help facilitate elections in which Hamas takes part.
PA Chairman Mahmoud Abbas (Abu Mazen) said on Monday that he might postpone the elections, currently set for Jan. 25, altogether. He said it was because of Israel's policy on the Jerusalem balloting, but it is well-known that Abbas - head of Fatah - is looking for an excuse to push off the elections because of the great electoral support enjoyed by Hamas.
Eyad Sarraj, a PA political analyst and an election candidate, told the Christian Science Monitor that the PA's lack of law enforcement in Gaza and the talk about voting problems in eastern Jerusalem are calculated moves by Abbas to provide "excuses" to delay elections in which he knows Fatah will fair poorly.
Chief PA negotiator and spokesman Saeb Erekat said, that if Israel provides the same voting access as in 1996, the elections should be held as planned. Erekat also acknowledged that there was much violence on Gaza streets, saying that while "every effort is being made to contain" it, the PA is not sure who is responsible for the rash of shootings and government office takeovers by masked gunmen.
Four foreigners have been kidnapped and released by Arab gunmen in Gaza over the past week. "It's impossible to say who has guns in Gaza anymore," Erekat said. "The ballots are the only thing that can stop the violence at this point."
Israeli police blocked two PA Arabs from electioneering in eastern Jerusalem on Tuesday. They were briefly arrested, questioned, and released on bail for having taken part in what the Oslo Accords term illegal Palestinian Authority activity in Jerusalem.
Two State Department officials, Assistant Secretary David Welch and the National Security Council's Elliot Abrams, will arrive in Israel and will hold talks on Thursday with Israeli and PA officials regarding the elections and the planned "free passage" from Gaza to Judea and Samaria.