CAIRO, Dec. 24 (Xinhuanet) -- The Arab League (AL) blasted a recent Israeli decision on Saturday to ban Palestinians in East Jerusalem from voting in January's Palestinian legislative elections.

    "The Israeli ban was aimed at prejudging the fate of Jerusalem," AL Assistant Secretary General Muhammad Sobeih said in a statement.

    The statement also said that the pan-Arab organization is following with concern the non-stop Israeli measures toward "erasing Jerusalem's Arab identity and surrounding it with illegal settlements."

    Palestinian voters, including those in East Jerusalem, are expected to cast their ballots on Jan. 25.

    However, Israel said earlier this week that it will bar Palestinian residents in East Jerusalem from voting.

    Israel captured East Jerusalem in the 1967 Arab-Israeli war and then annexed it in a move not recognized by the international community. Enditem