Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas has postponed next month’s parliamentary elections — the first in 15 years in the Occupied Territories. Abbas blamed Israel for refusing to promise that thousands of Palestinians living in Israeli-occupied areas of Jerusalem could vote in the election.

President Mahmoud Abbas: “Facing this difficult situation, we decided to postpone the date of holding legislative elections until the participation of Jerusalem and its people is guaranteed. Jerusalem will not be compromised, and our people in Jerusalem will not give up their right to exercise their democratic rights.”

Abbas’s decision comes at a time when a rift is growing within his Fatah party after jailed Palestinian leader Marwan Barghouti recently endorsed a rival slate to challenge candidates backed by Abbas.