Jordanian authorities denied today that Amman has withdrawn its objections to the municipal elections scheduled to be held in at least ten West Bank towns under the auspices of the Israeli military government and Interior Ministry. Information Minister Adnan Abu Uda declared that Jordan’s call to West Bankers to boycott the elections still stands.
According to reports appearing in Western newspapers today, King Hussein allegedly rescinded his boycott order on grounds that it would be observed only by his supporters and would permit opponents of his regime to win election by default. The reports were attributed to prominent West Bank Arabs who returned from visits to Amman over the weekend.
They reportedly said that threats of economic sanctions against any participants in the elections to be held next spring were withdrawn, at least for the time being. The decision was said to have been made by Hussein himself. The elections, which will be held according to Jordanian law, will be the first on the West Bank since 1963. Voters will select town councilmen to replace incumbents, many of whose terms expired several years ago.
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