Vermonters for a Just Peace in Palestine/Israel
Elections Archive - May 2008
Elections Archive - May 2008
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Ramon: Elections to be held this year Yitzhak Benhorin, YNetNews 5/30/2008 Speaking in Washington, Vice Premier Haim Ramon says he expects general elections to be held by November; meanwhile, Olmert’s associates say prime minister will not stand in way of early Kadima primaries - WASHINGTON- Minister Haim Ramon, who is a close associate of Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, has estimated Friday that general elections will be held in Israel by November. Ramon, who is currently in the United States, voiced his assessment during a conference at the Washington Institute. Ramon, who also serves as vice premier, said that he believes that Israel and the Palestinians should be publicly presenting the understandings they have reached while Olmert is still in office, and before American President George W. Bush leaves the White House. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Olmert’s associates, speaking in Israel, said Friday evening that the PM does not intend to. . . Egyptian MP calls for expulsion of PA’s ambassador Ma’an News Agency 5/26/2008 Cairo - Ma’an - Baha Atiyya, a member of the Muslim Brotherhood in the Egyptian Parliament, criticized comments by the Palestinian Ambassador to Egypt, Nabil Amr against Hamas. Atiyya called on the Egyptian government to expel Amr, saying that he could not legitimately represent the Palestinian people. Atiyya called Amr’s remarks "sectarian," saying that his words do not represent the voice of Palestinian resistance, rather the narrow interests of the Fatah movement. Amr represents the Fatah-dominated Palestinian Authority, which holds power in the West Bank. Atiyya defended Hamas, saying that the movement came to power through elections, not force. Hamas won the 2006 Palestinian parliamentary elections. In 2007, Hamas prevailed in armed fighting in the Gaza Strip, defeating Fatah’s security forces, since then, Hamas Has ruled Gaza, Fatah the West Bank. Fatah leaders said to be at odds over performance of Fayyad’s government Ma’an News Agency 5/26/2008 Ramallah – Ma’an – Fatah’s Revolutionary Council (RC), one of the main governing bodies of the movement, will continue its 25th meeting in the West Bank city of Ramallah on Monday amid disagreement about the performance of the caretaker government of Prime Minister Salam Fayyad. An evaluation of the current government is on the agenda for the third day of the meeting. Fayyad’s critics, who believe the government has not stuck to the Fatah party line, are expected to demand changes in the cabinet. Others are said to support the current cabinet. Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas appointed the Fayyad Government after firing the Hamas-Fatah unity government last summer following Hamas’ takeover of Gaza. The RC will also be discussing plans for Fatah’s sixth general conference after local elections were concluded in the various regions of the West Bank. Israeli leader admits Israel has been holding secret talks with Hamas Saed Bannoura, International Middle East Media Center News 5/19/2008 Israel’s Vice-Prime Minister, Haim Ramon, admitted Monday that the government of Israel has, for the last several weeks, been holding talks with the Hamas party, in contradiction with Israel’s stated policy of ’isolating and attacking’ the elected Hamas-led government of the Palestinian people The talks have focused on a negotiated release of the one Israeli soldier being held by Palestinian resistance groups, in exchange for some of the over-10,000 Palestinians (many of them civilians) being held in Israeli detention camps. In addition, Ramon stated that the Israeli government is attempting to pressure the Hamas government, elected to lead the Palestinian people during January 2006 legislative elections,to engage in a ceasefire with Israel. Ramon heavily criticized the alleged talks, stating that when the Palestinian people elected the Hamas party, they turned the group from a ’terror organization’ into a ’terror nation called Hamas-stan’. Dr. Barghouthi: Abbas should stop speaking of resigning and halt negotiations with the Israelis Palestine News Network 5/19/2008 Ramallah / PNN - Chairman of Palestinian National Initiative and deputy in the Legislative Council, Dr. Mustafa Barghouthi said on Monday that President Mahmoud Abbas needs to stop negotiations and not resign from office. Al Barghouthi told the press, "President Abbas is invited to stop negotiations with the Israelis and return to work with other Palestinian factions to restore national unity, instead of talking about resigning. "Barghouthi demanded that future Palestinian presidential elections should take place on schedule and legislative elections to take place in conjunction with them. A former presidential candidate himself, Barghouthi refused to deny or confirm his candidacy in the forthcoming presidential elections supposed to take place on the ninth of January next. He said, "There is no doubt that it is too early to talk about the subject of presidential elections,. . . Palestinian sources: Rice asked Abbas to appoint a deputy Palestinian Information Center 5/19/2008 RAMALLAH, (PIC)-- US secretary of state Condoleezza Rice has asked PA chief Mahmoud Abbas to appoint a deputy fearing that Hamas would take over the post of president if Abbas resigned or his term in office ended, Palestinian sources said. The sources, described as "high level", told Quds net website on Monday that the Palestinian basic law stipulates that in the event the president resigned or his tenure ended then the speaker of the PLC would take over his place for 60 days on temporary basis until a new president is elected. The sources noted that Abbas plans to dissolve the PLC three months before end of his term at the pretext of "Hamas’s obstinacy", its control of the Gaza Strip and non acceptance of conditions for dialogue. Fatah leaders asked Abbas to expedite announcing an early date for presidential and legislative elections three months before end of his term, the sources concluded. Obama says Bush policies strengthened Iran, Hamas Reuters, Ha’aretz 5/17/2008 Democratic presidential frontrunner Barack Obama said Friday that President George W. Bush’s policies in the Middle East have served to benefit U. S. foes Iran and Hamas. "[Bush and Republican nominee John McCain have] got to answer for the fact that Iran is the greatest strategic beneficiary of our invasion of Iraq. It made Iran stronger, George Bush’s policies," he said. "They’re going to have to explain why Hamas now controls Gaza, Hamas that was strengthened because the United States insisted that we should have democratic elections in the Palestinian Authority," he added. Obama, relishing a long-distance debate with Bush on foreign policy, said the president had contributed to Tehran’s rise in the Middle East by launching the Iraq war, which he said had removed Baghdad as a counterweight to Iran. Galloway: Oslo did not liberate one inch of the Palestinian lands Palestinian Information Center 5/15/2008 AMMAN, (PIC)-- British MP George Galloway stated that the Oslo agreement did not liberate one inch of the Palestinian lands, admitting that he had committed mistakes in the past regarding his outlook for the nature of the Arab-Israeli conflict. At a symposium on the Nakba of Palestine held in Jordan, MP Galloway held Britain fully responsible for the suffering of the Palestinian people, saying that whatever Britain did, it can never erase the black mark caused by the Balfour declaration, pointing out that the Palestinian people embarrassed the world when they refused to become an extinct people like the red Indians. The British lawmaker also said that Tony Blair should not forget Balfour when he comes to talk about peace in the region. The lawmaker criticized the Israeli siege on Gaza, saying that it was imposed in response to the results of the Palestinian elections which were won by Hamas. Marwan Barghouthi calls for Palestinian unity government Ma’an News Agency 5/12/2008 Bethlehem – Ma’an – Jailed Fatah leader Marwan Barghouthi sent a message from his Israeli prison cell on Sunday calling for the formation ofa Palestinian unity government. Barghouthi also called for early elections and the return of the situation in the Gaza Strip to what it was before Hamas’ takeover in June 2007. Barghouthi, who is often mentioned as a possible successor to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, praised the "steadfastness" of the Palestinian people in the face of ongoing Israeli occupation. The message was intended to mark the 60th anniversary of the Palestinian Nakba (Catastrophe). He said that the Palestinian people has proved its ability over sixty years to counter Israeli attempts to remove the Palestinians from the map through forced displacement. Barghouthi also called on Palestinians to participate in the activities to mark the 60th anniversary. . . Fatah leader elected president of the Palestinian Football Federation Ma’an News Agency 5/11/2008 Ramallah – Ma’an – Jibreel Rajoub, the former director of the Palestinian Preventive Security service in the West Bank, was elected president of the Palestinian Football Federation on Saturday evening. Rajoub won an uncontested election after his only opponent, Jihad Tummali, withdrew last week. A longtime member of Fatah, Rajoub was once considered a candidate to succeed Yasser Arafat as Palestinian President. The members of the Federation’s governing body were also elected on Saturday. A number of nominees from Jerusalem split votes among themselves, and no one from Jerusalem was ultimately elected. A representative of FIFA, the world football federation, attended the election, which took place in the town of Al-Birah, in the central West Bank. Elections did not take place in the Gaza Strip as a result of a decision by the minister of youth and sport in the Hamas-run de facto government, Basim Na’im. Fatah Wins Key W. Bank Student Election The Associated Press, MIFTAH 5/10/2008 Hebron University officials say Fatah has won student council elections in a former Hamas stronghold. Fatah activists loyal to Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas won 21 seats Wednesday, compared to 20 for Hamas. Fatah supporters honked car horns and fired guns in the air when the results were announced. Islamists controlled the university’s student council since 1986. University elections are an important gauge of opinion. Since the violent Hamas takeover of Gaza last year, Fatah has been trying to prevent a repeat in the West Bank. Hebron is traditionally a Hamas stronghold. Last month, Fatah also retook the student council of Bir Zeit, the West Bank’s most prestigious university. Source: , 8 May. Egypt braces for new Gaza influx Adam Morrow and Khaled Moussa al-Omrani, Electronic Intifada 5/6/2008 CAIRO, 6 May (IPS) - With next-door Gaza Strip in a humanitarian crisis, the government is desperate to avoid a repeat of January’s Palestinian influx into the Sinai Peninsula. In recent weeks, the security presence along Egypt’s 14-kilometer border with the hapless territory has been significantly reinforced. "The authorities are still in the process of boosting the police presence and enhancing security along the border," Hatem al-Buluk, independent journalist and resident of al-Arish, located some 40 kilometers west of the border, told IPS. Since last June, when authority over the Gaza Strip was seized by Palestinian resistance faction Hamas (after it won the elections here in 2006), the territory has been subject to a crippling Israeli embargo. Backed by both the US and the EU, the siege has effectively deprived Gaza’s roughly 1. Fateh wins Student Council election in Al Quds University IMEMC News & Agencies, International Middle East Media Center News 5/6/2008 The Maan News Agency reported on Tuesday that Yasser Arafat Bloc of Fateh movement achieved an overwhelming victory at Al Quds University -- Abu Dis, east of Jerusalem. The Yasser Arafat Bloc -- named after the late Palestinian President, won 44 out of 62 seats. A leftist bloc belonging to the Popular Front For The Liberation of Palestine, won six seats, the Palestinian National Initiative won 3, the Islamic Group won 3 and another leftist bloc won three seats. It is worth mentioning that only 50. 7% of the students voted this year in comparison to 67. 7% last year, as Hamas movement refrained from participating in the elections this year. Students Struggle Bloc, Progressive Students Union Bloc and Fida Bloc did not won any seats. Furthermore, the Islamic Bloc which belongs to Hamas in the Hebron University, in the southern West Bank city of Hebron, decided to participate in the election which will be held on Wednesday. Abbas calls on Hamas to accept early elections Xinhua News Agency, ReliefWeb 5/4/2008 RAMALLAH, May 4, 2008 (Xinhua via COMTEX News Network) --Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas on Sunday called on Hamas to accept early presidential and parliamentary elections. "We call on Hamas to step back from its coup, to accept the legitimacy and to immediately accept holding early presidential and parliamentary elections," Abbas told a news conference he held in Ramallah with U. S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, adding that "we are ready for the elections." Hamas, which won legislative elections in January 2006, ousted pro-Abbas forces from Gaza Strip and took over the territory last June. After sacking Hamas-led unity government, Abbas formed a Western-backed government based in the West Bank without the trust from the Hamas-dominated parliament. "We stress that the Gaza Strip and the West Bank are a united geographical part," Abbas added.  Articles
At the eleventh hour Editorial, Al-Ahram Weekly 5/29/2008 The announcement in Ankara of Turkish-sponsored Syrian-Israeli negotiations didn’t come as a surprise. Since Syria disclosed that the Turkish prime minister conveyed that Israel was prepared to pull out of the Golan, things have been moving in that direction. Both Israel and Syria have reasons to talk, and Turkey is glad to act as the go-between. For a long time, Syrian-Israeli negotiations were consistently beset by developments on the Lebanese and Palestinian tracks of Arab-Israeli peace talks. This time, however, things may turn out differently. The negotiations are taking place in the last months of the Bush presidency and perhaps even during Ehud Olmert’s last days in office. With the Israeli prime minister under investigation for corruption, many in Israel have been calling for him to step down. There is a chance that Tzipi Livni, Israeli foreign minister, may take his place until early elections are held later in the year. After that, pollsters say, Binyamin Netanyahu, whose hardline policies on Syria are known to all, may emerge as Israel’s next leader. Middle East Peace Requires Forgiveness Ghassan Rubeiz, Middle East Online 5/10/2008 PALM BEACH, Florida—Peace requires forgiveness. Jimmy Carter’s meeting in Damascus last week with the leadership of Hamas has aroused strong emotions. If compromise of principles disqualifies parties from peace making, the Middle East is doomed forever. The Damascus visit involves five main parties: Hamas, the Palestinian Authority, Israel, the United States, and former President Carter. There is no uncompromised party among the five listed. Hamas compromised in violence, the Palestinian Authority in corruption, Israel in a harsh occupation, the United States in nursing erosion of justice, and Jimmy Carter in over-tolerance of Arab autocracy. I am a strong critic of Hamas for not recognising Israel and for not exploiting non-violent resistance—the most powerful weapon that Palestinians can muster for liberation from an oppressive Israeli occupation. But whether one supports Hamas or not, this grassroots movement did win the last parliamentary national elections. This historical election authorised Hamas to lead the government of the Palestinian communities – under Israel’s occupation – in the West Bank, East Jerusalem, and Gaza. The attack on Jimmy Carter Bill Fletcher, Jr, Electronic Intifada 5/4/2008 Former US President James (Jimmy) Carter has the ability to appear almost out of thin air, landing in the midst of some of the most complex international crises. He has done it again, this time in going to meet with the Palestinian resistance group, Hamas. For reaching out to this significant section of the Palestinian movement, he is being demonized by both the Bush administration and the administration of Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert. Former President Carter has crossed a line that George W. Bush and his Israeli allies have set, aimed at isolating and destroying Hamas. Despite the fact that Hamas won internationally-recognized elections in Palestine in 2006, Bush and the Israelis have been doing all they can to void the elections, isolate Hamas and destroy them. In fact, a blockbuster article in Vanity Fair revealed details of a plan hatched by the Bush administration along with an anti-Hamas Palestinian leader to carry out a coup against Hamas. The plot failed, leading to a Hamas preemptive strike against the forces of Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, with the result being a Hamas takeover of the Gaza Strip. LinksAdalah Adalah (Justice in Arabic) is the first non-profit, non-sectarian Palestinian-run legal center in Israel. The main goal of Adalah’s work is to achieve equal rights and minority rights protections for Palestinian citizens of Israel. Addameer Prisoners’ Support and Human Rights Organization: Addameer (conscience) is a Palestinian non-governmental, civil institution which focuses on human rights issues. Supports Palestinian prisoners, advocates for rights of political prisoners, works to end torture. Amnesty International Amnesty International (AI) is a worldwide movement of people who campaign for internationally recognized human rights. AI’s vision is of a world in which every person enjoys all of the human rights enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and other international human rights standards. Amnesty International USA Amnesty International (AI) is a worldwide movement of people who campaign for internationally recognized human rights. AI’s vision is of a world in which every person enjoys all of the human rights enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and other international human rights standards. Arab Association for Human Rights - HRA The HRA was founded in 1988 to promote and protect the political, civil, economic, and cultural rights of the Palestinian Arab minority in Israel and to further the domestic implementation of international human rights principles. It is an independent non-governmental organisation registered in Israel. Association for Civil Rights in Israel - ACRI In Hebrew - The Association for Civil Rights in Israel (ACRI) was founded in 1972 as a non-political and independent body, with the goal of protecting human and civil rights in Israel and in the territories under Israeli control. B’tselem The Israeli Information Center for Human Rights in the Occupied Territories. It endeavors to document and educate the Israeli public and policymakers about human rights violations in the Occupied Territories, combat the phenomenon of denial prevalent among the Israeli public, and help create a human rights culture in Israel. Boycott Israeli Medical Association UK: The Medical Committee for Boycott of the Israeli Medical Association (IMA) will document the systematic torture of Palestinian people by agents of Israel. It will publicise the practice in order to bring world opinion to bear on Israel. And it will challenge the Israeli Medical Association which has repeatedly failed to issue advice to doctors who are involved in any way with torture. Human Rights Watch Human Rights Watch is an independent, nongovernmental organization, supported by contributions from private individuals and foundations worldwide. Human Rights Watch is dedicated to protecting the human rights of people around the world. Palestinian Center for Human Rights The Palestinian Centre for Human Rights (PCHR) is an independent legal body based in Gaza City dedicated to protecting human rights, promoting the rule of law, and upholding democratic principles in the Occupied Palestinian Territories. Palestinian Prisoners Society The Palestinian Prisoner Society is a social and human institution and its members are prisoners inside prisons and released prisoners. Membership is open to every Palestinian prisoner inside and outside prisons who meets the conditions of membership. Physicians for Human Rights - Israel Physicians for Human Rights - Israel (PHR-Israel) was established in 1988 as a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization, dedicated to promoting and protecting the medical human rights of all residents of Israel and the Occupied Territories. Public Committee Against Torture in Israel - PCATI An independent human rights organization founded that monitors the implementation conditions in detention centers and continues the struggle against the use of torture in interrogation in Israel and the Palestinian Authority. United Nations Information System on the Question of Palestine The main collection contains the texts of current and historical United Nations material concerning the question of Palestine and other issues related to the Middle East situation and the search for peace. World Organisation Against Torture OMCT is today the largest international coalition of NGOs fighting against torture,summary executions, forced disappearances and all other forms of cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment in order to preserve Human Rights. It has at its disposal a network, SOS Torture, consisting of some 240 non-governmental organisations which act as sources of information.
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