Reference number: 52/2023
Date: June 20, 2023
Native language: Arabic
Press release
The International Commission “Hashd” publishes a worksheet titled “Repercussions of Local Election Disruption in the Gaza Strip.”
The International Commission to Support Palestinian Rights “Hashd” issued a worksheet entitled: “Repercussions of Local Election Disruption in the Gaza Strip.” prepared by: Ms. Rana Majid Hudaib.
The worksheet aims to shed light on the realities of the Gaza Strip’s interruption of elections, as well as the implications for the democratic process and the right of the people to pick their representatives.
The paper demonstrated that the continuous disruption of the democratic process and deprivation of Palestinian society of regaining its political life will create division within the Palestinian predicament, worsening the negative economic and social impacts.
Among them: passing up a genuine potential for change by transforming municipal elections into a springboard for parliamentary and presidential elections, by growing and consolidating them in a way that puts political parties back on the route leading to internal Palestinian reform.
She highlighted that obstructing any external efforts or directions – Arab or international – would help in dealing with humanitarian crises in the Gaza Strip, squandering opportunities to obtain international grants and aid for infrastructure development, and thus missing the opportunity to dismantle some episodes of the Israeli blockade, or urging the international community and international organizations to support the democratic process in Palestinian territories.
The paper noted that preventing the infusion of new and elected blood into local bodies and institutions has a negative impact on the quality and efficiency of institutional performance of these bodies, and thus on the services provided to citizens, and affects citizens’ right to hold municipal councils accountable.
The paper demonstrated that participation in local elections, among other things, means a Palestinian citizen’s sense of responsibility and influence, and thus denial of this right means losing his sense of citizenship and belonging, making it difficult for local authorities to motivate him to present his obligations and duties or assume his responsibilities towards them, in addition to depriving sectors of society. Youth and women, who make up the largest social sector, are particularly barred from voting.
Rana believes that completing the local elections in the Gaza Strip is a continuation of what has previously been done and that holding them will contribute to strengthening the services provided by them, given that the elections are a form of popular oversight, and that success in this will enhance the economy and community communication, and may constitute a small bridge towards Palestinian reconciliation.
Click here to read the complete paper in Arabic:
Finished.
The International Commission to Support Palestinian Rights (Hashd)
