Vermonters
for a Just Peace in Palestine/Israel
Elections Archive - August 2007
Elections Archive - August 2007
| Home | Vermonters
for a Just Peace in Palestine/Israel Elections Archive - August 2007 |
|
|
|
The deposed Palestinian government continues to make efforts to stop the sanctions imposed on Gaza Wissam Afifah, International Middle East Media Center 8/29/2007 The Palestinian deposed cabinet issued a statement on Wednesday that the cabinet is still doing efforts by contacting Arab and international countries in order to left the sanctions imposed on the Gaza strip. The statement also welcomed the stands of several countries that accepted and welcomed the latest Palestinian legislative council elections, and added that it’s important to open communication with those countries in order to end the crippling embargo that is imposed on the Gaza strip since Hamas took over the costal region in mid June 2007. The statement said that the Palestinian security forces have started to work on cases of corruption in addition to the deployment of the police force all over the Gaza strip with the executive force of Hamas being absorbed inside the police force. Gulf between Qaddoumi and Abbas widens as Fayyad receives US blessing for Presidential bid Ma’an News Agency 8/23/2007 Bethlehem – Ma’an – The Jordanian daily, Ad-Dustur, on Thursday quoted "reliable Palestinian sources" as saying that Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas does not intend to stand in presidential elections after his term ends in a year and a half. The sources added that a prominent Fatah leader, and member of its central committee, Mahir Ghneim, has refused to be nominated as Abbas’ successor. According to the Jordanian newspaper, the relationship between Abbas and the Fatah leader-in-exile, Farouq Qaddoumi, is witnessing an increasingly wide gap. The sources described Qaddoumi as having been the main driver of Fatah’s central committee, convincing members to reject Abbas’ nomination of new central committee members, such as Azzam Al-Ahmad and Nabil Amr. Former Israeli official suggests curbing rise of Hamas through welfare provision John Smith, International Middle East Media Center 8/21/2007 Rani Lowenstein, a former Israeli official, has suggested that the Palestinian Authority should implement a comprehensive welfare state system in the West Bank in order to curb the rise of Hamas and establish a parliamentary majority in any future Palestinian Legislative Council elections. Lowenstein, considered by many to be close to the current Palestinian Prime Minister Salam Fayyad, made the suggestions in a report presented to Palestinian officials during a conference in the United States. The report predicts a Hamas takeover of the West Bank within two years if the PA does not take serious measures to improve the standard of life in the region. The document goes on to suggest, in a somewhat contradictory fashion, that the Fatah movement should concentrate upon short-term schemes, seemingly solely designed... Fatah struggles to regain power Rula Amin in Ramallah, Al Jazeera 8/21/2007 The Fatah movement has been at the forefront of the Palestinian struggle for an independent state, but has also faced accusations of corruption and cronyism. Now it is facing one of its biggest challenges yet after having lost control over the Gaza Strip to its main rival, Hamas. Al Jazeera’s Rula Amin looks at Fatah’s battle to regain the support of the Palestinian people. The Fatah movement of Yasser Arafat, the late president, led the Palestinians in their struggle for freedom for decades. Years later, the movement lead the Palestinians to peace talks with Israel. Almost two years after the death of Arafat, and after nearly forty years in power, Fatah is believed losing ground. The movement experienced its first defeat when it lost parliamentary elections to Hamas in early 2006. Second PLC deputy head resigns Rashid Hilal, International Middle East Media Center 8/21/2007 Second Deputy Head of the Palestinian Legislative Council (PLC), Hasan Khreisha, submitted his resignation on Monday in protest to the continuous obstruction of PLC sessions and conducts. Khreisha, who is an independent member of the Council and was supported by Hamas during the Legislative elections, stated in a press conference in Ramallah on Monday that he informed the first deputy head of the PLC, Dr. Ahmad Bahar of his decision. He called on all parliamentarian blocs to hold a PLC session in order to elect a new committee for the PLC. The PLC is suffering from political and legal crises as its legal mandate expired last March and was renewed by a request from Hamas for additional four months which ended in July. Hamas rejected a request from the Palestinian President, Mahmoud Abbas, to hold a new opening... Second Vice deputy-speaker of the PLC resigns from post Rashid Hilal, International Middle East Media Center 8/20/2007 The second Vice Deputy Speaker of the Palestinian Legislative Council, Hassan Khreshah, resigned from his post on Monday in protest against the continuous obstruction of the democratic process. Khreshah announced his resignation at a press conference in the central West Bank City of Ramallah on Monday afternoon. Khreshah is an independent Palestinian parliamentarian, who was supported by Hamas during the 2006 Parliamentary elections. Khreshah’s resignation deepens the political crisis faced by an administration whose legal term of office has already expired. While the Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas recently called on Hamas to elect a new administrative committee for the PLC, the Hamas movement refused to do so. Hamas currently holds 75 of 120 seats in the PLC, making it the largest Parliamentray bloc. Haniyya calls for early elections for the Palestinian National Council IMEMC Staff, International Middle East Media Center 8/19/2007 Ismail Haniyya, the Palestinian Prime Minister of the Palestinian government which was dissolved by president Mahmoud Abbas, but still performing his duties in the Gaza Strip, stated on Saturday that Hamas recognizes the legitimacy of Abbas as a president and called for early elections for the Palestinian National Council (PNC). The statements of Haniyya came during an interview with several Arab and international media outlets in Gaza. Haniyya said that his government recognizes Abbas as the president of the Palestinian National Authority but does not recognize his decrees which, according to Haniyya, violate the constitution. He reiterated the position of Hamas in rejecting the calls of Abbas to hold early presidential and legislative elections in order to end the current crisis. Italian MP urges Abbas to open dialogue with Hamas Palestinian Information Center 8/19/2007 RAMALLAH, (PIC)-- Ali Rashid, a member of the Italian Parliament of Palestinian origin, has called on PA chief Mahmoud Abbas to open channels of dialogue with Hamas for the supreme national interest, underlining his readiness to meet with the Hamas leaders. In a press statement to Al-Jazeera website, Ali Rashid criticized Abbas and Fatah officials’ rejection to meet with Hamas representatives who were elected democratically, while they beg negotiations with IOA. The MP hailed the Italian government’s attitudes toward the Palestinian cause, describing them as the most advanced if compared to Arab and even some Palestinian officials’ position. Regarding the early elections called for by Abbas, the MP said that there is no justification for holding early general elections... Hamas rejects Abbas’s new election law Palestinian Information Center 8/18/2007 GAZA, (PIC)-- The Hamas Movement has declared rejection of the PA chief Mahmoud Abbas’s new election law that commits each and every candidate to declare abidance by the PLO program and its signed agreements, which practically excludes Hamas from participating in elections. A close associate of Abbas said that any candidate should accept the PLO as the sole, legitimate representative of the Palestinian people and to approve the declaration of independence endorsed back in 1988. Dr. Sami Abu Zuhri, the Hamas spokesman in the Gaza Strip, described such a law as "illegal", adding, "We are not concerned with this step". Abbas has no right to amend the Palestinian basic law because the PLC is the one entitled to amend or issue new laws, he clarified. Abu Zuhri further noted that no elections would succeed without participation of Hamas... Abbas could Limit Hamas Participation in Elections Reuters, MIFTAH 8/16/2007 Ramallah, West Bank - Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas’s advisers are looking at options for holding new elections that could limit Hamas participation, Palestinian officials said on Wednesday. One of these options would bar candidates from Hamas and other groups from participating unless they accepted Palestinian law and previous agreements signed by the Palestine Liberation Organisation (PLO). Abbas’s advisers, who spoke on condition of anonymity, stressed that no final decisions have been made. Hamas, which won a majority of the seats in parliament in a January 2006 election, has said it would be unconstitutional for Abbas to call early parliamentary and presidential elections. The group has threatened to block any election effort. Abbas mulls ways to limit Hamas participation in PA elections Ha’aretz 8/15/2007 Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas’ advisers are examining options for holding new elections that could limit Hamas participation, Palestinian officials said on Wednesday. One of these options would bar candidates from Hamas and other groups from participating unless they accepted Palestinian law and previous agreements signed by the Palestine Liberation Organisation (PLO). Abbas’ advisers, who spoke on condition of anonymity, stressed that no final decisions have been made. Hamas, which won a majority of the seats in parliament in a January 2006 election, has said it would be unconstitutional for Abbas to call early parliamentary and presidential elections. The group has threatened to block any election effort. The long-dominant Fatah faction of the PLO, then led by Yasser Arafat and now headed... Second-deputy of the PLC condemns Abbas’ attempts to impose laws on the decision-making body Ma’an News Agency 8/15/2007 Bethlehem – Ma’an – The second-deputy of the Palestinian Legislative Council (PLC), Dr Hasan Khreisha, said on Wednesday that "nobody can force decisions on the PLC, as ratifying decisions is the PLC’s prerogative." Khreisha commented on Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas’ decision to adopt proportional representation in the elections of the Palestine Liberation Organisation (PLO) institutions, the Palestinian National Council and the PLC. He added, "Neither the president, nor anyone else, has the right to impose laws on the PLC." Khreisha explained, "Abu Mazin’s [Abbas] decision does not apply to the PLC since it is not one of the PLO’s institutions." Khreisha said that the PLO’s Central Council asked the PLC to adopt a system of proportional representation in elections, and that the PLC has the right to accept or reject the suggestion. Hawatmeh: Abbas does not represent the Palestinian people Ma’an News Agency 8/12/2007 Bethlehem – Ma’an – Secretary General of the Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine (DFLP), Nayef Hawatmeh, on Sunday cast doubt over the legitimacy of President Mahmoud Abbas as a representative of the Palestinian people. The leader-in-exile, who currently resides in Syria, said that the Palestinian Legislative Council elections of 2005 and 2006 were unrepresentative as they only included the votes of 40% of the Palestinian population." Therefore, neither the presidency, nor the PLC represent the Palestinian people," said Hawatmeh. Hawatmeh appealed for new elections on the basis of "full proportional representation, excluding any kind of political monopoly." The DFLP leader said "the Palestinian situation now stands at a crossroads; either to enter into a full deterioration or to bring the... President Abbas mandates electoral system of proportional representation Ma’an News Agency 8/11/2007 Bethlehem – Ma’an – Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas has issued a presidential decree mandating the adoption of a full proportional representation system of "lists" in any forthcoming elections. This presidential decree came in the context of calls for PLO elections, the elections for popular organizations and in the forthcoming elections of the Palestinian National Council. [end] Gaza municipality employees go on strike Ghassan Bannoura, International Middle East Media Center 8/11/2007 The employees of Gaza City municipality announced on Saturday an open ended strike for not receiving their salaries since December 2006, the employees said that this strike has no political or factional orientation. The strikers called upon all factions not to force any political or factional conflict on their strike, adding that the strike will be finished as soon as they get their salaries. The 1000 municipality employees are part of the 64, 000 public sector employees that are not paid by the Palestinian government. The EU USA and Israeli has forced a crippling financial siege on the Palestinian Authority shortly after Hamas won the Palestinian democratic elections in 2006. The employees expressed their deep sorrow for being forced to go on strike, but the strikers say that they always made the city as their first priority, but now most of them can’t feed their families. Former Labor minister endorses Netanyahu Nehama Duek, YNetNews 8/5/2007 Ora Namir says she will not vote for Likud but will be happy if Netanyahu wins next elections. ’He will be an excellent prime minister and will lead to an agreement with the Palestinians,’ she adds - "I would be very happy to see Benjamin Netanyahu win the elections and become our next prime minister," Former Labor Party minister, Ora Namir, said Saturday. Namir, 77, told Yedioth Ahronoth, "I believe Netanyahu will be an excellent prime minister. I have been following him in the past few years and I believe that he has learned a lot from his mistakes. "In addition, he did an excellent job as finance minister, and therefore I consider him the most suitable person to be the next prime minister," she added. Namir, who worked for former Labor Chairman Amir Peretz in the 2006 Knesset elections and...  Articles
U.S.-Backed Campaign Against Hamas Expands to Charities Adam Entous, MIFTAH 8/22/2007 A U.S.-backed campaign against Hamas is being expanded to include Islamic charities that helped propel it to power, Palestinian, Israeli and Western officials said. Salam Fayyad, whom Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas appointed prime minister after Hamas seized control of the Gaza Strip in June, aims to reduce the influence of Hamas and its welfare arm and to build an alternative, government-run social service system using Western and Arab funds. Mahmoud al-Habbash, Fayyad’s social affairs minister, said the government had a right to target Islamic charities that "help Hamas in their fight against the authority". Hamas, which won parliamentary elections in January 2006, has challenged the legality of Fayyad’s government. Fayyad’s government is expected to approve new anti-money laundering rules that one official said would include a ban on "anyone bringing in money illegally". Another official said the rules, drafted by the Palestinian Monetary Authority, could be applied to funds for Hamas, its allies and others. Hour for Statemanship Arab News - Editorial, MIFTAH 8/21/2007 THE Israeli military’s decision to open a border crossing with the Gaza Strip for a few hours to allow fuel deliveries to the territory might solve the immediate problem of darkness, but the light at the end of the tunnel is still a long way from shining. Going by the dire predictions of UN officials, unless Israel eases border restrictions there could be a humanitarian disaster in Gaza not limited to fuel restrictions. Gaza is a sealed-off ghetto, politically and economically. It is now almost entirely dependent on aid, with practically everyone reliant on handouts provided by the United Nations. The strip risks becoming a virtually 100 percent aid-dependent, closed down and isolated community within a matter of months, or even weeks, if the present regime of closures continues. Israel has sealed off Gaza from the outside world since the takeover of Gaza by Hamas. Hamas and Fatah did the rest with their bloody feud, which effectively divided the Palestinian camp into two. Perhaps they wouldn’t be skidding down this steep slope had Fatah gracefully accepted the decisive win of Hamas in the parliamentary elections. It is, though, too late to wish what might have been. Still, the Palestinian cause may still be able to garner sufficient political will and enable leaders to emerge who see beyond their own or their factions’ interests, to chart a new course. A vast majority of Palestinians are for reconciliation and for ending a feud detrimental to their political aspirations. No Way around Conciliation Jordan Times - Editorial, MIFTAH 8/17/2007 o much for the only democracy in the Arab world. Having experimented with real, representative and fair elections, the Palestinian Authority, or the part that is controlled by Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, has announced that in effect it will not allow Hamas, the victors in the last elections, to take part in any new elections. In a presidential decree yesterday, the Palestinian electoral law has been changed so that candidates for both legislative and presidential elections must “respect” the political programme of the PLO and previously signed agreements between Israel and the PA. In other words, Palestinian politicians must now be fully paid-up members of the two-state solution as defined by the Oslo accords. Not only do Hamas and Islamic Jihad fall foul of the law, anyone, and this includes many Palestinian intellectuals and independents who believe Oslo was a trap, and everything since has been proof of that, will walk the wrong side of the line. The law is problematic in the extreme. It stymies Palestinian options and robs Palestinians of genuine choices. It means that Palestinians will, in essence, only now be able to vote covering a few percentage points of the West Bank with regard to the thing that really matters to them: how to achieve statehood and freedom. Lebanese strike a blow at US-backed government Robert Fisk, The Independent 8/7/2007 They’ve done it again. The Arabs have, once more, followed democracy and voted for the wrong man. Just as the Palestinians voted for Hamas when they were supposed to vote for the Palestinian Authority of Mahmoud Abbas, so the Christian Maronites of Lebanon appear to have voted for a man opposed to the majority government of Fouad Siniora in Beirut. Camille Khoury - with a strong vote from the Armenian Tashnak party - won by 418 votes the seat that belonged to Pierre Gemayel, murdered last November by gunmen supposedly working for the Syrian security services. While the Maronite vote had increased against Gemayel’s showing in 2005 elections, the result was a stunning blow to the American-backed government - how devastating that phrase "American-backed" has now become in the Middle East - in Lebanon and allowed Hizbollah’s ally, ex-General Michel Aoun to claim that "they cannot beat me". Mr Aoun is a candidate in presidential elections later this year. True, the voting figures showed huge support for Pierre Gemayel’s father Amin - himself an ex-president- who was standing for the parliamentary seat of his murdered son. Although he was a weak and fractious leader - Amin paid a state visit to Damascus to re-cement "fraternal" ties after the Israeli withdrawal from Lebanon - he proved himself a brave man in the aftermath of his son’s murder, calling upon Lebanese to support the government rather than submit once more to the domination of Syria. Francis Boyle: Destroying Democracy in Palestine Francis Boyle, Palestine Chronicle 8/8/2007 When the Palestinians democratically elected a government that the Neo-Conservatives in the Bush Jr. administration and their Kadima/Likudnik confederates in Israel did not prefer, they jointly did everything humanly possible to destroy it. The belligerent Bush Jr. administration’s policies against the state of Palestine in order to depose its democratically- elected government by organizing an internal coup d’état in Gaza by means of Palestinian surrogates under the command of General Mohamed Dahlanprovide yet another compelling reason why it is too dangerous for world peace to keep these Neo-Conservatives in power any longer. If there had ever been any doubt about it, the Bush Jr. administration’s aggression against Palestine ’s democratically-elected government proved that their alleged program of "democratization" for the Arab and Muslim world was a joke and a fraud to begin with. To be sure, Article 21(3) of the 1948 Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which constitutes customary international law, expressly provides: "The will of the people shall be the basis of the authority of government; this will shall be expressed in periodic and genuine elections which shall be by universal and equal suffrage and shall be held by secret vote or by equivalent free voting procedures." Mimicking Oslo Khalid Amayreh in occupied East Jerusalem, Palestinian Information Center 8/5/2007 A few days after the 2006 parliamentary elections in the occupied Palestinian territories of the West Bank, E. Jerusalem and Gaza, which Hamas won decisively, Fatah leaders and activists held a “soul-searching” meeting in Dura, near Hebron. Nabil Amr, now Mahmoud Abbas’s political advisor, who failed to win a seat, attended the meeting, apparently in order to boost his defeated faction’s moral And when a Fatah activist and student leader asked Amr how Fatah could rehabilitate itself and regain stature and preeminence among Palestinians, Amr reportedly said, without patting an eyelash “Concessions, concessions, concessions.” Amr often describes himself as a “secular pragmatist” and “firm believer in real politike" In 2003, he played a leading role in effecting American-backed efforts to weaken the late Palestinian leader, along with people like Mahmoud Abbas and Muhammed Dahlan. The “gang of conspirers” as Arafat called his critics within Fatah, sought, with full American backing, to strip the late Palestinian leader of at least some of his powers, including control over security agencies. Arafat’s presence was then quite dominant and Amr, Abbas and Dahlan couldn’t successfully challenge Arafat’s autocratic leadership. In fact, on 20 July, 2004, Amr himself was shot and nearly killed by a Fatah gunman, apparently on instructions from Arafat who had apparently thought that Amr was going too far in criticizing and undermining his benefactor. A few weeks later, Amr got his right leg amputated in Germany. 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 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 Centre for Human Rights in the Occupied Territories 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. Occupation Prisoners News stories and reports about Palestinian prisoners from International Press Center, of the Palestinian National Authority’s State Information Service. Palestinian Centre 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.
The Treatment of Prisoners and Detainees: Home page
To receive
a once-daily (M-F) e-mail digest of our News and Articles content, write
to Disclaimer: The views expressed in the material posted on this site are the sole responsibility of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the webmaster or Vermonters for a Just Peace in Palestine/Israel. FAIR USE NOTICE: This site may contain copyrighted material the use of which has not always been specifically authorized by the copyright owner. We are making such material available in our efforts to advance understanding of environmental, political, human rights, economic, democracy, scientific, and social justice issues. We believe this constitutes a 'fair use' of any such copyrighted material as provided for in section 107 of the US Copyright Law. In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107, the material on this site is distributed without profit to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving the included information for research and educational purposes. For more information go to: http://www4.law.cornell.edu/uscode/17/107.html If you wish to use copyrighted material from this site for purposes of your own that go beyond 'fair use', you must obtain permission from the copyright owner.
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
