Palestinian Authority Wants to Open 18 Polling Stations in Jerusalem

Arab World

March 30th, 6:44am

Ramallah - Asharq Al-Awsat

Palestinian women register their names for parliamentary and presidential elections in Gaza city. (Reuters)

The Palestinian Authority asked foreign diplomats to pressure Israel into allowing 18 polling stations to open in Israeli-occupied East Jerusalem instead of just six, which was the figure during the 2006 elections. According to Gal Berger, head of the Palestinian Affairs Desk at the Israeli Broadcasting Corporation, Israel has not received an official request in this regard and has not determined its position yet. However, officials in the Authority confirmed repeatedly that they had submitted a formal request to allow elections in Jerusalem, without receiving any response from Israel. A source at the PA said that Israel has refrained from responding to the request, pending the results of the Israeli elections first. The Palestinian Central Elections Commission (PCEC) has alternative scenarios to enable Jerusalemites to vote, even though it is banned from working in the city. It will allow them to register and vote on the same day at post offices around the city. The post offices are used due to the absence of electoral stations, but this may not be sufficient if Israel decides to prevent Jerusalemites from participating in any way. The Oslo Agreement signed between the Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO) and Tel Aviv obliges Israel to allow Jerusalemites to participate in the Palestinian elections. Article VI of the agreement stipulates that voting will take place in East Jerusalem at offices affiliated with the Israel Postal Authority. The Elections Commission stated that Jerusalemites participated in the 2005 presidential elections and 2006 legislative elections, after which Israel prevented them from participating in polls. For the first time in 15 years, Palestinians plan to hold legislative elections on May 22 to elect 132 deputies, while presidential polls are set for July 31. Elections for the National Council, which has its own system, will be held on August 31. Meanwhile, a number of Palestinian national and Islamic factions in Jerusalem underscored the unwavering right of Jerusalemites to actively participate in the democratic process through voting at stations inside the capital. The factions said in a statement that the legislative elections are a long-awaited national right, stressing that all efforts will be exerted to ensure their success, in a way that reflects democracy and progress in Palestinian society. "The Palestinians in East Jerusalem have the right to effectively participate in the democratic process through running for and voting in the elections," the statement said. It called on the Central Elections Commission to assume its responsibilities in completing the electoral registration and ensure that Palestinians in East Jerusalem can cast their ballots at polling stations. All the national and Islamic factions assert their clear goal to defeat the Israeli occupation and establish a Palestinian state with Jerusalem as its capital, said the statement.

from Asharq AL-awsat https://english.aawsat.com/home/article/2889781/palestinian-authority-wants-open-18-polling-stations-jerusalem