Although previous Israeli governments have allowed Arab east Jerusalemites to cast their votes for Palestinian elections by post, as was the case in 1996 when Yasser Arafat was elected, the current government will not allow this to happen because the move will legitimize Palestinian claim to the eastern parts of Jerusalem, Shalom was quoted as saying.

Palestinian Prime Minister Ahmed Qurei announced Saturday that elections for the Palestinian National Authority (PNA) chairmanship will be held within 60 days according to the Palestinian Law by Jan. 9.

The United States has launched a discreet campaign to pressure Israel to assist the PNA in laying the way for elections in the territories.

The New York Times quoted US officials as saying that among the demands the Bush administration has leveled at Israel is to allow Palestinian residents of east Jerusalem to participate in the upcoming elections.