US calls for holding Palestinian election on time: sources

Palestinian and Israeli sources said Saturday that the United States has informed both Israel and the Palestinian National Authority (PNA) that it wants the Palestinian legislative election to be held on time.

Palestinian sources said the United States insists on holding the election on Jan. 25 as scheduled and rejects any postponement.

Israeli press quoted official sources as reporting that the U.S. administration urged both sides to reach an agreement on the issue of Jerusalem residents' voting in the election.

Meanwhile, General Keith Dayton, the new U.S. security envoy to coordinate the PNA and Israel, has informed Israeli Defense Minister Shaul Mofaz and PNA officials of the U.S. point of view over the election.

In his meeting with Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas in the West Bank city of Ramallah on Friday, Dayton clarified that the United States does not consider postponing the legislative election.

Palestinian voters are expected to cast their ballots in the territories, including east Jerusalem, on Jan. 25.

However, Israel said earlier this week that it will bar Palestinian residents in east Jerusalem from voting.

Source: Xinhua