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Israel Will Not Prevent Palestinians in Jerusalem from Voting

(Christian Science Monitor ) Rafael D. Frankel - Israeli government spokesman Raanan Gissin says Israel will not stand in the way of Palestinians living in Jerusalem from casting ballots in the upcoming Palestinian legislative elections. "We will find a way to fulfill our obligations to allow them to exercise their right to vote," he says. While the exact formula has not yet been decided, he says, it would likely be similar to the 1996 Palestinian elections when Israel allowed mail-in balloting from Jerusalem as well as easier access to areas in the West Bank with voting booths. "The Palestinians are looking for an excuse to blame Israel because they are incapable of controlling their own streets," Gissin says. "If they decide they want to cancel the election, they do it on their own merit, they can't hang it on us." (Under the 1993 Oslo Accords, Palestinian political activities are prohibited in Jerusalem, as is participation in the PA by parties, such as Hamas, that do not recognize Israel's right to exist.)
2006-01-04 00:00:00
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