CAIRO, Nov. 18 (Xinhuanet) -- A senior Palestinian official said Thursday that the Palestinians have had intensive contacts with the United States and the European Union (EU) to prepare for the presidential election scheduled for Jan 9.

   "The Palestinians asked the EU and the US to make sure that Israel would not obstruct the election," chief Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat told the Cairo-based voice of the Arabs radio.

   He said that the Palestinian side hoped that the EU and Washington would exert pressure on Israel, so that the Palestinians in east Jerusalem would be able to cast their ballots in the election.

   Both Israelis and Palestinians claim Jerusalem as their own. There has been bitter contention on whether to allow east Jerusalem's 228,000 Palestinians to vote.

   Palestinian officials said earlier that the election would not be held if the Palestinians in east Jerusalem are prevented from voting.

   Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon has warned that allowing the Palestinians in east Jerusalem to vote would weaken Israel's claim to the city, but he has not fully ruled out the possibility.

   Shortly after Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat passed away last Thursday, speaker of the Palestinian Legislative Council Rawhi Fattouh was sworn in as the interim chairman of the Palestinian National Authority (PNA).

   Under the Palestinian basic law, Fattouh should be the head of the PNA for 60 days until a new PNA chairman is elected.

   The new Palestinian leadership has decided to hold the  presidential election on Jan. 9, 2005.  Enditem