Egypt’s FM meets UN's Middle East envoy

Egypt's foreign minister met Wednesday with the U.N. special envoy for the Middle East.

Foreign Minister Sameh Shukry discussed with Tor Wennesland the latest developments in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict amid the recent violence in Jerusalem.

Spokesman Ahmed Hafez said the discussion tackled means to advance the peace track.

Wednesday's meeting came after Egyptian officials said the Palestinian Authority plans to call off its first elections in 15 years, citing Israel's refusal to allow voting in east Jerusalem.

The decision would effectively grant Israel a veto over the holding of elections, though President Mahmoud Abbas could also benefit from the canceling a vote in which his fractured Fatah party is expected to lose power and influence to the Islamic militant group Hamas.

Israel told European ambassadors on Tuesday that it would not prevent Palestinian elections, but authorities have yet to say whether they will allow voting in east Jerusalem. Israel's silence on the issue indicates that it would rather be blamed for a postponement than see elections that further empower Hamas.

An Egyptian diplomat and an intelligence official said they had been briefed on the Palestinians' decision to cancel the election, which will be announced Thursday at a meeting of Palestinian factions.

They said Egypt is in talks with Israel to reach a compromise to allow the vote but those efforts have so far failed.