A Palestinian official has called on the international community to deter Israel from hindering Palestinian elections to be held next year.

Speaking in the West Bank city of Ramallah on Sunday, Palestinian chief negotiation representative, Saeb Arekat, said that according to an agreement signed in 1995, Israel should permit Palestinian residents of East Jerusalem to vote, China Radio International reported Monday.

The representative also called on the Mideast Quartet - the US, Russia, the EU and the United Nations - and the international community to abide by the agreement to enable the election to proceed smoothly.

Earlier in the day, Israeli Foreign Minister Silvan Shalom objected to Palestinians in East Jerusalem participating in the voting, saying it would legalize Palestinian sovereignty of East Jerusalem.

But Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon said he didn't rule out the possibility of East Jerusalem Palestinians voting in the election.

Source: CRIENGLISH.com