International Christian Embassy Jerusalem, Dec. 23, 2002

Palestinian Authority Chairman Yasser Arafat on Sunday decided to indefinitely postpone general elections planned for January 20, which were supposed to shake-up the PA cabinet infrastructure and promote democracy.

Arafat blamed the Israeli army presence in Palestinian cities and villages for the decision, which was made at the weekly meeting of the Palestinian cabinet in Ramallah on Sunday.

The postponement is aimed primarily at inviting international pressure on Israel to force it to pull its troops out of Palestinian populated areas and halt its military offensive.

"We will seek to remove obstacles placed by Israel, which are hindering the presidential, parliamentary, and municipal elections in all the Palestinian territories," Minister of Information Yasser Abed Rabbo said. "It's clear that it's impossible to hold the elections while the Israeli occupation of PA-controlled cities and villages continues."

Abed Rabbo said the elections committee would continue to prepare for the elections, which will be held only after the IDF withdraws.

The only Palestinian elections were held in 1996. Under pressure to implement major reforms, Arafat announced in September that the elections would be held on January 20.

Palestinians argue that curfews, closures and daily detentions, make it impossible for candidates to move around. PA officials say they will need at least three months free of Israeli troops to allow for campaigning.