Palestinian Authority President Tells EU He ‘Decided To Postpone Elections’

By Staff, Agencies

Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas notified the European Union [EU], Jordan and Egypt of his decision to postpone Palestinian parliamentary elections, originally scheduled for May 22, Lebanese al-Akhbar newspaper reported on Tuesday.

Abbas' decision to delay the elections comes as the ‘Israeli’ regime bans Palestinians living in East al-Quds from casting their ballots, according to the report.

The EU reportedly asked Abbas to wait until Thursday to deliver his announcement, in order to give the Europeans time to try to pressure the occupation authorities into allowing voting in East al-Quds.

"We will not agree under any circumstances to hold general elections without [East] al-Quds and its inhabitants," Abbas declared on Monday evening at a meeting of the Central Committee of the Fatah movement, urging the international community to put pressure on the ‘Israeli’ occupation entity.

The decree ordering the postponement is expected to be issued on Thursday after a meeting of PA leaders in Ramallah, without setting a new date.