Mahmoud Abbas, the front runner in Sunday's upcoming Palestinian Authority elections canceled a scheduled campaign stop in Jerusalem today due to what he said were inadequate Israeli security arrangements. Israeli officials indicated they feared for Abbas's safety from a possible attack by right wing Israeli extremists.

In what may be a final symbolic gesture to the Palestinian street, Abbas said going to Jerusalem and being guarded by Israeli security forces while campaigning for the PA presidency would be an 'embarrassment.' When asked about why he canceled his planned stop at the Al Aqsa mosque he simply indicated, 'I will visit Jerusalem later.'

Israel has permitted campaigning in Jerusalem and the residents of East Jerusalem are permitted to vote in Sunday's election. Israel annexed East Jerusalem after its victory in the Six Day War in 1967 and has claimed the city as its eternal and undivided capital. Palestinians also want to make Jerusalem the capital of their new state when it is formed.

Abbas is by far the favorite to succeed the late Yasser Arafat as president of the Palestinian Authority. He has indicated he favors and end to the violence of the second intifadah, saying that acts of terror have been counterproductive towards the goal of forming an independent Palestinian State.