Palestinian elections will not be held on July 17

The Palestinian Election Commission announced today that parliamentary elections cannot be held on July 17, as planned, because it needs more time to prepare.

The commission said it needs at least two months, from the time a new election law is ratified, to prepare for the vote.

The legislation has been held up by a dispute between Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas and parliament over how many legislators should be chosen in districts and how many from party slates.

The commission met today and called on Abbas to issue a presidential decree with a new election date.