DAVOS (Pakistan Point News / Sputnik - 22nd January, 2020) The Palestinian Authority is planning to ask Russian President Vladimir Putin to convince Israel to allow Palestinians in East Jerusalem to participate in upcoming Palestinian elections, Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammad Shtayyeh told Sputnik on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum in Davos.
"Until now, we do not have a yes answer from Israelis to facilitate the voting system in Jerusalem. They did not say no or yes. So we will be asking [Russian] President [Vladimir] Putin to ask the Israelis to allow us to conduct these elections. The moment the Israelis allow it in East Jerusalem, we will immediately have the date, the presidential decree and we will go for general elections that include parliament and presidential elections," the prime minister said.
In December 2019, Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas delayed the planned general and presidential elections until Israel issues an official approval to allow Palestinians living in East Jerusalem to participate in the elections. Earlier in January, he called on the world community to exert pressure on Israel so that Palestinian citizens residing in East Jerusalem can vote in the upcoming elections.
The last Palestinian presidential and general elections took place in 2005 and 2006, respectively.
