Palestine Liberation Organization chiefMahmoud Abbas on Saturday held Israel responsible for the currentmilitary escalation and the deterioration of security situation inthe Gaza Strip.

In a written statement sent to reporters before heading to thesouthern Gaza Strip town of Rafah to continue his electioncampaign, Abbas said the United States, the European Union, Chinaand Russia must press Israel to end its military operations in theGaza Strip.

He said they should compel Israel "to implement the Middle Eastroadmap pace plan and to protect the Palestinian people from thecontinuous military escalation."

The Israeli military operations in the Gaza Strip "could aim atobstructing the Palestinian presidential election due to be held inthe Palestinian territories on Jan. 9," said Abbas. "We are extending our hands to achieve a just peace that wouldbring peace and security to the people of the whole region," saidAbbas.

Palestinian security sources said Abbas had to postpone hisvisit to Rafah for two hours due to tough Israeli security measurestaken in central and southern Gaza Strip.

A spokesman for Abbas told reporters that Abbas condemns theIsraeli security measures as well as its large-scale operation inthe southern Gaza Strip town of Khan Yunis, which has entered thethird consecutive day.

It will be the first time that Abbas comes to Rafah, a townwhich has witnessed incursions and demolition of houses round theclock since the beginning of the Palestinian intifada, or uprising,in September 2000.