A Palestinian general election scheduled for January has been postponed indefinitely because of Israel's reoccupation of West Bank cities, a Palestinian cabinet minister said today.
"Due to the Israeli reoccupation, obstruction and closures, it is impossible to convene the election on January 20," the minister, Mr Saeb Erekat, said after a Palestinian cabinet meeting on the vote.
A cabinet statement said elections "would be held immediately after occupation forces pull back" to positions held before a Palestinian uprising for statehood erupted in September 2000.
Palestinian President Mr Yasser Arafat called presidential and parliamentary elections in September under pressure at home and abroad to reform his Palestinian Authority as a step towards statehood.
The first and only Palestinian elections were held in 1996, while a second ballot has been pre-empted by the uprising. Israel sent troops to reoccupy West Bank cities following Palestinian suicide attacks.