Quds city, Nov 22, SPA -- Israel will do "everything in its power" to enable Palestinian elections to take place, Israeli Foreign Minister Silvan Shalom said Monday, after meeting with outgoing U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell. The Palestinians have said Israel must withdrew troops from West Bank towns so the Jan. 9 presidential elections can be held. Shalom did not refer specifically to a troop withdrawal, but said the Palestinians would have "freedom of movement" in the run up to the vote. He said arrangements would be coordinated with the Palestinians. Shalom said that "the first priority is the Palestinian election, which will hopefully bring about a Palestinian leadership that we will be able to sit down with." "I have reassured the secretary today that Israel will do everything in its power to ensure" the elections will go ahead as planned.
