Reporter Greg Myre of the NY Times raises the possibility that much of the recent Gaza chaos has been deliberately designed by Fatah to delay the elections:
Some Palestinian analysts also believe that some of the recent gun battles, kidnappings and shootings in Gaza and the West Bank have been part of an orchestrated effort to try to convince Mr. Abbas and Israel that elections now are either impossible or dangerous. Most of the clashes have been caused by Fatah-related militant groups.
So why does general coverage suggest that voting in eastern Jerusalem will sink the elections?