Jerusalem: Israel today (Nov 22, 2004) assured visiting US Secretary of State Colin Powell to do everything in its power to remove any obstacles in next year's Palestinian polls and allow Arabs in all territories to cast their vote.

"Israel will do its utmost to ease conditions for the Palestinian Authority elections so that they might be held in an orderly fashion," Israel Prime Minister Ariel Sharon said after a meeting with Powell.

Palestinians are seeking a guarantee from Powell, who is on his first visit to the region in 18 months, that Israel will allow smooth conduct of the January polls to choose a successor to late President Yasser Arafat.

Middle East crisis

On the issue of allowing Arab residents of East Jerusalem to vote in the Palestinian Presidential elections, Sharon said, "He believes that Israel must enable them to vote, as was done in the past, this will be discussed in the appropriate forums, and a decision will be made."

He however said Israel would not compromise on its demand to halt terror and dismantle its infrastructure.

"There were will be no compromises on this issue and it will be the Palestinians who will lose if they don't act against terrorism," Sharon said.

He noted that "even now there has been no change in Palestinians' attempts to perpetrate terrorist attacks in Israel".

Expressing satisfaction on the Israeli assurance, Powell said, "The US has been very encouraged by Israel's approach over the last few weeks, including the aid that it is prepared to extend regarding the holding of proper PA elections."