RAMALLAH, Jan. 3 (Xinhuanet) -- Israeli police detained a campaigning Palestinian candidate in East Jerusalem on Tuesday, Palestinian sources and witnesses said.

    Mustafa Barghouti, head of the independent Palestine list for the coming Palestinian legislative elections due on Jan. 25, was detained for not having a permission to enter the Old City, the sources said.

    Israeli police also detained an aide to Palestinian parliament member Hanan Ashrawi at a press conference held by him in East Jerusalem, witnesses said.

    Officers confiscated a sign showing Ashrawi with a slogan "the third way" and arrested the aide for attempting to interfere withan officer, according to the witnesses.

    Ashrawi who heads the list of "The Third Way" launched group campaigns from Bab al Amod in East Jerusalem on Tuesday.  

    An Israeli spokesman said earlier that political campaign activities will not be allowed until Israel decides whether to allow East Jerusalem residents to participate in the January elections.

    According to the election law, campaigns for all candidates that are running in the elections start as of midnight Jan. 3, and will continue till Jan. 24, one day ahead of the polls.  

    However, if Israel prevents East Jerusalem residents from running and voting, the polls might be postponed.

    While the election campaign began all over the Palestinian territories, East Jerusalem is still waiting for a positive answer from Israel to the Palestinian request to allow them to hold the elections in East Jerusalem.  Enditem