On the anniversary of Arafat's departure, Abbas clings to elections in the West Bank, Gaza and Jerusalem

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas has said that parliamentary and presidential elections should be held in the West Bank, Gaza Strip and Jerusalem, and that they cannot be held without them.

In a speech marking the 15th anniversary of the death of President Yasser Arafat, he added that he was waiting for an answer from all factions regarding the holding of the elections and hoped that he would receive positive responses.

Abbas said the Palestinian leadership would not accept a waiver of Palestinian funds held by Israel.

He hoped that everyone would say "yes" to the elections, and "be as responsible, because it protects our existence and our cause, so who is keen to do so must walk to the elections."

Abbas has called for legislative elections repeatedly, while the last elections in 2006 were won by the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) before clashes erupted between them and the Fatah movement, and the Islamist movement controls the Gaza Strip in 2007.

"We said immediately that we are ready for the elections, and we will overcome all obstacles because it is an opportunity to get out of the Palestinian impasse," said Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar.

The first Palestinian legislative and presidential elections were held in 1996, and presidential elections were held in 2005 following the death of Arafat.

Palestinians in the West Bank, Gaza and occupied East Jerusalem took part in the elections.

Martyrs of the People
On another issue, Abbas stressed that "the martyrs of the Palestinian people are not murderers ... they are our most sacred", while Israel demands that the PA stop supporting the families of anyone killed, injured or detained in an attack or confrontation with its soldiers.

"Some have tried to slap us in the afternoon," Abbas said in a speech at the presidential headquarters in Ramallah, alluding to the so-called "American deal of the century." To give up our cause, our destiny and the dream of our people. "

"The martyrs of the Palestinian people are not murderers, and we will never accept to surrender them, our prisoners and our wounded, because they are the holiest thing we have," he said.

Israel wants the Palestinian Authority to stop paying "allowances for families of martyrs and prisoners". The Authority refused to receive tax funds from Israel, which were under-budgeted, for some time before returning and agreeing to receive them.