Steve Quayle News Alerts

May 17, 2002

RAMALLAH, West Bank — The Palestinians plan to hold general elections within six months, on condition that Israeli troops first withdraw to positions they held before the outbreak of fighting 20 months ago, Palestinian officials said Friday.

Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat told reporters Friday that elections would only be held once Israeli occupation had ended, but his advisers later clarified that the voting is being linked to a far more modest withdrawal demand.

Arafat is under growing pressure from the United States, the European Union and his own people to reform the corruption-ridden Palestinian Authority and to hold elections.

Arafat's popularity has been sagging as a result of the Israeli-Palestinian fighting that caused great hardships to the residents of the West Bank and Gaza Strip. Israel's six-week military offensive against Palestinian militias, which ended last week, strengthened a sense among many Palestinians that their government is ineffective and unable to protect them.

Arafat has said he is open to changes, but has not given specifics. On Thursday, Abdel Rahman, secretary of the Palestinian Cabinet, told The Associated Press that Arafat wanted to hold elections within six months, as part of a reform package.

Asked Friday when elections would be held, Arafat told reporters in English: "As soon as they (the Israelis) finish this occupation from our land, according to the agreement that was supposed to be at the beginning of 1999." In 1999, Israel and the Palestinians were to have reached a final peace deal.

However, Palestinian Planning Minister Nabil Shaath said later that the goal remained to have presidential and parliamentary elections within six months. Shaath said that work on putting together rosters of 1.6 million eligible voters had begun.

"But these elections need an Israeli withdrawal to the places (troops held) before Sept. 28, 2000," Shaath said, referring to the day the fighting began.

Israel would have to remove dozens of checkpoints and pull back forces that are perched outside of major Palestinian cities.

Shaath said the Palestinians also insisted that residents of traditionally Arab east Jerusalem be permitted to vote, as they were in the last Palestinian election in 1996.

"If that happens, then everything will be prepared. We are working on it now," he said.

The Palestinian Bureau of Statistics said it would take about 60 days to compile the list of voters. The bureau said it expects international monitors will be needed to ensure fair elections.

The Palestinians' Central Elections Committee will convene over the weekend to start preparations, officials said.

On Thursday, the Palestinian parliament called for elections by the beginning of 2003 and demanded that Arafat disband his Cabinet and present a new one within 45 days.

Arafat's decision to hold elections appeared aimed at deflecting reform demands. Despite the widespread dissatisfaction, Arafat continues to be seen as a symbol of the Palestinian people and is not expected to face a strong challenge for leadership.

The Palestinians' first general elections were held in 1996 — as part of interim peace agreements with Israel.

At the time, Arafat took 87 percent of the vote against Samiha Khalil, a female social worker in her 70s. Members of his Fatah faction won 50 of the 88 seats in the legislature.

Previous attempts to reform Arafat's administration have led to few significant changes, with Arafat ignoring laws passed by parliament as well as decisions by the judiciary.

Israeli officials were skeptical of the calls for reform.

"Regarding any type of reforms whatsoever in the Palestinian Authority, we will have to see it to believe it," said David Baker, an official in Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's office.

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,53015,00.html