Israel, PA teams will monitor preparations for elections

Israel and the Palestinian Authority agreed Monday on a mechanism which will coordinate preparations for upcoming PA elections.

Both sides agreed to appoint committees. The Israeli committee will be headed by Dov Weisglass, Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's senior advisor, while the Palestinians team will be headed by current PA Finance Minister Salem Fayed.

The committees will oversee teams of professional who will coordinate and monitor all technical and security arrangements ahead of and during the elections.

Last week Weisglass and Sharon's political advisor, Shalom Turdjman, held a first meeting with Palestinian Authority Minister Saeb Erekat and with Hassan Abu Libdeh, the Palestinian Authority Prime Minister's bureau chief. In addition, Defense Minister Shaul Mofaz hosted a large forum of guests for a discussion on preparations for Palestinian elections.

According to sources in Jerusalem, Israel focused on keeping four main principles: putting forth the utmost effort to ensure Palestinian elections, withdrawing IDF forces from West Back cities in the 72 hours leading to elections, ensuring freedom of movement to international monitors, maintaining election standards and regulations as established in the Palestinian Authority elections of Jan 1996.

Mofaz: Israel to withdraw from Palestinian cities ahead of elections

Israel Defense Forces troops will be pulled out of Palestinian cities ahead of the January 9 elections in the Palestinian Authority, Defense Minister Shaul Mofaz said Monday.

Speaking at the Herzliya economic conference, Mofaz said "We will leave the Palestinian cities for a period of about 72 hours, that is the day before, the day of and the day after the election."

"We will do our best not to interfere with orderly procedure of the election," he added.

Mofaz added that Israel would consider giving the Palestinian Authority security responsibility for the territories before its planned withdrawal from the Gaza Strip and parts of the northern West Bank.

"I am prepared to transfer responsibility in the Gaza Strip even before implementation of the pullout plan... and more so, on the day the Palestinians will be ready to take responsibility over cities in the West Bank, I am convinced we must transfer authority in these places before, or during the pullout, but only if they stop the terror that is coming out of Jenin and Nablus." Mofaz said at the Herzliya Conference.

Mofaz stressed that the implementation of the disengagement plan was the "basis for a future interim agreement," due to the absence of a possibility to reach a permanent agreement at present. Mofaz said an interim agreement could reestablish trust between the sides, could lead to a dismantling of terror infrastructure and end incitement.

Mofaz's speech was the first time that Israel has provided details on how will make good on its promise to facilitate the vote.

But Palestinian Cabinet minister Saeb Erekat said IDF troops should withdraw from Palestinian towns immediately to enable candidates to campaign. Israel should also lift travel bans on Palestinians and remove checkpoints, Erekat said.

"I urge Mr. Mofaz and urge the Israeli government to take the high ground and to really open the cities and towns from today," Erekat said.