A staff-ed in today’s NY Times criticizes Israel for trying to block Hamas from participating in the upcoming PA elections by prohibiting polling in eastern Jerusalem:
To be sure, the other option, letting Hamas run, is hard to stomach. But it is the lesser evil because any movement, once in power, is compelled to supplement its bluster with deeds….
The Bush administration must continue to urge Israel to abandon its threat to prevent Palestinians in East Jerusalem from voting. The real intent of such a move would be to force Mr. Abbas to cancel the election.
But as the BBC notes:
Israel says elections in Jerusalem are carried out on the basis of 1995 Israeli-Palestinian Interim Agreement, a follow-up to the Oslo Accords.
Israel believes that Hamas is not allowed to take part, as the agreement specifically excludes candidates or parties who “pursue the implementation of their aims by unlawful or non-democratic means”.
The Beeb goes on to suggest that responsibility for the controvery doesn’t come from Israel, but rather from Fatah:
Many within the ruling party are very worried about the electoral challenge that Hamas is posing.
Some of the old guard believe that a delay might give them more time to fight this challenge.
