BRUSSELS, Jan. 3 (UPI) -- The European Union Monday vowed to continue monitoring the Palestinian
general election, despite mounting violence and instability in the region.
"Every new incident is a cause of concern, but there has not been any
change of plans", said a spokesman for the EU election mission Mathias Eck.
Thirty-two EU nationals have begun setting up monitoring centers in Gaza
and the West Bank ahead of the Jan. 25 parliamentary poll. Another 128
monitors and 30 members of the European Parliament are due to join the
mission to ensure the vote meets international standards, the EUobserver
news site reported Tuesday.
The elections are set to take place against the backdrop of violent aggression in the Palestine territories. Last week, several British and Italian citizens were kidnapped and EU border observers in Rafah had to flee a control post which was attacked by a mob of Palestine law enforcers. Palestinian insurgents have also threatened kidnap EU monitoring officials.
Palestinian Authority leader Mahmoud Abbas Tuesday warned that the first free election in the territory could be called off if Israel refuses Jerusalem-based Palestinians access to the ballots.
