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Palestinians can vote in East Jerusalem
RELATEDQUICKVOTEYOUR E-MAIL ALERTSJERUSALEM (CNN) -- Israel's Cabinet on Sunday unanimously approved a proposal allowing Palestinian residents of East Jerusalem to vote in next week's Palestinian legislative elections. The approval could help end a Palestinian threat to postpone the January 25 election. But the Cabinet said Hamas, a Palestinian militant group that calls for Israel's destruction, will not be allowed to campaign in East Jerusalem. (Watch as voting in East Jerusalem is approved -- 2:04) Concern over Hamas' participation -- and the prospect that it could win many votes in the first Palestinian parliamentary elections in a decade -- had led Israel to warn earlier that voting would not be allowed in East Jerusalem, which is under Israeli control and is mostly populated by Arab Palestinians. Israel and the U.S. State Department consider Hamas a terrorist organization, though it also operates an extensive social services network. The decision of the Israeli Cabinet, which currently has seven members, drew a mixed response from Palestinians. Chief Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erakat said he welcomed the decision and had urged the chief European Union election observer to make sure arrangements were in place for East Jerusalem residents. Palestinian legislator Hanan Ashrawi, who is running as part of a list called the Third Way Party, condemned the Cabinet's decision. "We think that these conditions are extremely unfair and prejudicial," she said. "We don't think that Israel has the right to dictate or decide who is to run and who isn't. "However, we are determined to continue to press ahead with our democratic rights, and we are going to press ahead trying to improve conditions, not just for Hamas but for all participants, and particularly for the Palestinians in Jerusalem." Voting to follow precedentsActing Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, who stepped in after Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's massive stroke earlier this month, said next week's elections will follow the same rules as those of the 1996 parliamentary vote and last year's Palestinian prime minister elections. In those elections, voting was allowed in East Jerusalem, but there was no fear that the elections would bring Hamas to power. Olmert added, "In any case, Israel will not allow Hamas to enter Jerusalem and no campaign will be allowed." Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas had threatened to cancel the elections if Israel had said it would block East Jerusalem Palestinian residents from voting there. The proposal calls for Palestinians in East Jerusalem to vote at one of five post offices. Soon after the Cabinet vote, Israel detained four alleged Hamas members for campaigning in East Jerusalem. Israeli police said they closed a Hamas office in the area that was being used as a campaign center. Authorities confiscated computers and documents. Anger in IsraelSome Israelis were angered at the voting plan. Outgoing Foreign Minister Silvan Shalom called it "dangerous." "What happened today to enable the Palestinians to vote in East Jerusalem might bring the Hamas to power, and we will have no excuse after that not to talk to the Hamas," he said. "We will be under huge pressure of the international community that will ask us to talk to the Hamas and to do everything we can in order to have such kind of negotiations" with the group. Olmert still interim PMMeanwhile, Israel's attorney general has decided not to declare Sharon permanently incapacitated at this time, and Olmert will retain his "acting" status, possibly until after planned March elections, Justice Department sources told CNN Sunday. Attorney General Meni Mazuz was to meet with Olmert later Sunday to convey that decision, the sources said. Sharon, 77, will undergo a CT scan and a tracheotomy Sunday evening, according to a statement from Hadassah Hospital. (Full story) Sharon is in critical but stable condition at the medical facility, where he was taken January 4 after suffering what doctors determined to be a massive stroke that resulted in brain hemorrhaging. CNN's Shira Medding contributed to this report. 
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