Israel approves limited vote in East Jerusalem

Israel's Cabinet yesterday approved voting in Arab East Jerusalem in a Palestinian parliamentary election but said it would ban the militant Hamas group from listing its candidates on ballots there.

The government approved the decision unanimously, an official said, after US pressure to lift opposition to voting in East Jerusalem, whose status is at the centre of the Middle East dispute.

Palestinians had warned Israel not to take measures that would disrupt or postpone the parliamentary poll on January 25, in which Hamas is participating for the first time.

Ehud Olmert, interim prime minister since Ariel Sharon suffered a massive stroke on January 4, urged the Cabinet to allow the limited East Jerusalem voting.

Palestinian chief negotiator Saeb Erekat condemned the Cabinet's exclusion of Hamas candidates for East Jerusalem.

"All parties and candidates who registered with the Central Election Committee have the full right to campaign in the West Bank, Gaza Strip and East Jerusalem," Mr Erekat said.

Mushir al-Masri, a spokesman for Hamas, which advocates Israel's destruction, said Israel's restrictions diminished Palestinian sovereignty over the election.

"Hamas and other factions are able to carry out their election campaign in many ways and in different methods despite the Zionist blackmail," Mr Masri said.

Israel captured East Jerusalem in the 1967 Middle East war and annexed it in a move not recognised internationally. It regards all of Jerusalem as its capital. Palestinians want East Jerusalem as capital of the state they hope to establish in the West Bank and Gaza. Hamas, popular among many Palestinians for its charities, perceived lack of corruption, and suicide bombings, is expected to make a strong showing against the mainstream Fatah.

Police, acting fast to enforce the Israeli ban, said they detained three Hamas candidates trying to campaign near a Muslim shrine in Jerusalem's walled Old City. Two other Palestinians were held on suspicion of assaulting police during the incident.

In a statement clarifying Mr Sharon's leadership status, the Justice Ministry said he could not be declared permanently incapacitated under Israeli law for another three months.

The ruling, by Attorney-General Menachem Mazuz, effectively ensured Mr Olmert would remain interim prime minister up to Israel's March 28 general election.

Mr Olmert was also expected to be named chairman of the Kadima Party, which Mr Sharon formed after quitting the rightist Likud to push for an end to conflict with the Palestinians.