Palestinian Prime Minister Ahmed Queria and other members of Fatah's old guard have decided not to run for parliament elections, according to officials who prefer to speak on condition of anonymity.

According to officials Queria would fail to win a seat in his East Jerusalem district but he would be appointed as a minister in the next government.
Palestinian parliament chairman Rawhi Fattouh also withdrew his name from the Fatah primary list fearing a possible defeat in the elections.
In an internal fight between the old guard and the young one Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas agreed finally to award top slots on the Fatah list of candidates to younger activists who did well in recent primaries. The move, which still needs court approval, has upset party veterans, who will now have to compete in district voting where re-election is not guaranteed.

Qureia resigned his prime ministerial post two weeks ago in order to participate in the elections for the Palestinian Legislative Council. Palestinian law bans parliamentary candidates from holding official state positions.

In the meantime, Israel keeps its decision not to allow Palestinian parliamentary elections in East Jerusalem.

Hamas and 10 other Palestinian factions told Abbas that he must avoid delaying the Palestinian elections which suppose to take place on January 25.

Israel's refusal to allow East Jerusalem residents to vote has drawn calls from some officials for a postponement. Abbas himself hinted this week that the PA might have to reexamine the election date.

A delay could suit Abbas' divided Fatah movement very well - but not Hamas, which is riding a surge of popularity.

Hamas and the other factions, not including Fatah, said in a statement that Abbas should first win international pressure on Israel to ensure that East Jerusalem residents are allowed to take part. If that fails, they said, he should find another solution.

"We have to find a way, a mechanism, to press ahead with the election despite the Israeli decision," said Hamas spokesman Mushir al-Masri in the Gaza Strip.

"Delaying the parliamentary election will create internal disruption and will spell the end of any Palestinian dialogue."

Abbas still says he wants the vote to take place on time.

Donors have been pushing for the long-delayed parliamentary ballot to strengthen democracy -- the last was held in 1996 -- but they are also wary of Hamas doing very well.

Hamas did not say how it thought the East Jerusalem problem could be solved if Israel stuck to its line.

Palestinian Information Minister Nabil Shaath said the PA would not agree to elections without voters from Jerusalem. "We cannot hold elections anywhere if the Palestinians in Jerusalem are not allowed to vote."
In the southern Gaza Strip, gunmen from the Fatah-affiliated Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades held a news conference urging factions to rally behind the idea that the election must be delayed if there was no participation in Jerusalem.

PHOTO CAPTION

Palestinian Prime Minister Ahmed Queria. (AFP)

Source: Jerusalemites News