Israeli police are to authorise Palestinians to campaign under certain conditions in annexed east Jerusalem for this month's parliamentary elections, a police spokesman says. "On orders from the political echelon, police have authorised Palestinian candidates to campaign under conditions," Jerusalem police spokesman Shmuel Ben Rubi told AFP. He did not elaborate on the conditions, adding only that a meeting was expected to take place on Monday to discuss the matter with representatives of various lists participating in the election.
Last Tuesday, Israeli police stopped two leading candidates from canvassing in the occupied Arab quarter of the city on the first day of campaigning for the landmark election, scheduled for January 25. Israel is yet to announce a formal decision on whether to allow Arabs to vote in east Jerusalem, as was eventually allowed in a Palestinian presidential election last January and the previous legislative poll in 1996. |