RAMALLAH, Palestine

Palestinian group Hamas rejects delaying the Palestinian elections, a senior group leader said on Tuesday.

“Postponing the polls – if happened – will be a serious decision,” Jamal al-Tawil told Anadolu Agency.

“Such a decision will be rejected as it will harm the high interests of the Palestinian people,” he said.

The Palestinian Authority is widely expected to announce delaying the Palestinian polls on Thursday due to the failure of the Israeli authorities to respond to a Palestinian request to hold elections in the occupied city of Jerusalem.

But the Palestinian daily Al-Quds, citing PA sources, said that the vote will be postponed due to US and Arab pressure.

According to a presidential decree in January by Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, Palestinians are scheduled to vote in legislative elections on May 22, presidential polls on July 31, and National Council polls on Aug. 31.

*Ahmed Asmar contributed to this report from Ankara