APAwire - APAwire CLIENTS ONLY, Gaza - 05 May 2021. Deputy of the Legislative Council, Ahmed Bahar, speaks during a press conference against postponement of the Palestinian parliamentary and presidential elections at the Legislative Council,
01.SOUNDBITE (Arabic) Senior Hamas leader Mahmud Al-Zahar
STORYLINE
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas announced Friday that the legislative elections scheduled for May 22 will be postponed until further notice.
"We have decided to postpone the elections until the participation of our people in East Jerusalem is guaranteed," Abbas said.
The Palestinian leadership insists on holding the general elections in East Jerusalem, as they want to elect a new parliament and a new president for all the Palestinian territories.
In January, Abbas announced the 2021 general elections will include the legislative elections on May 22, the presidential elections on July 31, and the elections of the Palestinian National Council, the highest decision-making body of the PLO, on Aug. 31.
Footage by Mahmoud Ajjour/APAwire