Palestinians recommend calling off upcoming vote

RAMALLAH, West Bank — Palestinian election officials on Thursday recommended calling off January's presidential election, clearing the way for embattled President Mahmoud Abbas to back off his threats to step down and remain in office.

Hanna Nasser, chairman of the Palestinian election commission, blamed the rival Hamas militant group for holding up the vote. He said Hamas, which controls the Gaza Strip, had refused to cooperate with election workers, making it impossible to hold the Jan. 24 vote.

"We planned to go to Gaza to figure out how we can conduct elections there," Nasser said. "In the meantime, we received an answer from Hamas that we are not welcome in Gaza. It is clear now that we cannot hold an election in Gaza."

The Palestinians have been divided between two rival governments since Hamas violently seized control of Gaza in 2007 from Abbas' Fatah movement. Abbas' Western-backed government controls only the West Bank. The Palestinians hope to establish an independent state in both territories, located on opposite sides of Israel, with east Jerusalem as their capital.

Abbas set the election last month after the latest round of reconciliation efforts with Hamas failed. Hamas has repeatedly said it would not cooperate with the vote.

Abbas must still approve the commission's recommendation. But if he does, as is expected, he will likely remain in office indefinitely.

Abbas last week said he would not contest the election, saying he was frustrated with the lack of progress in peace efforts with Israel.

Since then, both Palestinian supporters and members of the international community, including Israel, have urged him to reconsider. The delay in the election will likely give Abbas the pretext he needs to stay in office.

The Palestinians have refused to resume peace talks with Israel unless Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu freezes construction in Jewish settlements built on lands claimed by the Palestinians.

Netanyahu says he's ready to restart negotiations immediately, but he has refused to halt settlement construction.

Palestinian leaders have also privately expressed frustration with President Barack Obama, saying he has backed away from initial demands for an absolute freeze in settlement construction.