The Arab World Observatory for Democracy and Elections welcomed the developments regarding Mr. President’s issuance of the general elections decree, and considered that the opportunity had become ripe to renew the legitimacy of all aspects of the leadership bodies in the Palestinian political system, and returned the trust to its owners, the voters, as they are the source of legitimacy for the political system, and to exercise their right to political participation and to build a system. A democratic politician who contributes to restoring cohesion and unity between the two parts of the nation on democratic foundations and contributes to the unification of national institutions to address all the challenges facing our Palestinian people and pave the way for salvation from the occupation and the building of an independent Palestinian state with Jerusalem as its capital.
The Observatory considers the decree the beginning of the election process based on the timetable set by the Palestinian Central Elections Commission, and places the responsibility on the forces, factions and parties to ensure the provision of the electoral environment by ensuring the freedoms required for the success of free and fair democratic elections. At the same time, the decree places a double responsibility on states. Friendly to put pressure on the occupation to ensure the participation of Palestinian citizens of Jerusalem in voting and nomination within the city of Jerusalem, similar to the rest of the Palestinian cities.
As we see the decree as an essential step in the electoral process, we call for:
• Parties, forces, and factions must sign a charter of honor before starting the national dialogue, in which all parties commit not to leave the dialogue before agreeing on everything that contributes to overcoming obstacles and holding free and fair democratic elections.
• Factions, forces and parties stop making any press statements that would disturb the atmosphere of unity and everyone’s responsibility to spread a positive spirit.
• The forces, factions and parties are committed to placing Jerusalemite candidates at the top of their electoral lists in a way that contributes to increasing the number of members of the Legislative Council for the Holy City.
• Considering the Palestinian government as a caretaker government until the elections are held and not taking any decisions that would affect the electoral process in favor of any party.
• The commitment of parties, forces and factions to include in their lists young men of both sexes in guaranteed positions, in addition to giving women fairness in electoral lists by no less than 30%.
• The Observatory, along with the Palestinian civil society institutions, confirms their commitment to establishing an electoral code of honor for the electoral process that contributes to ensuring the commitment of all parties participating in the elections to abide by it, provided that the charter includes the electoral environment, the electoral process, and the post-election period.
• The importance of coordinating efforts between the Central Elections Commission, civil institutions, forces and parties to organize the largest electoral education process in all Palestinian locations, the basis of which is the city of Jerusalem, to ensure the largest possible participation of citizens of both genders in the electoral process.
• The importance of the media’s commitment to broadcasting a positive, unified spirit to encourage voters of both sexes to participate in the electoral process.
• The Observatory, in cooperation with the National Election Monitoring Committee, is committed to contributing to enhancing the integrity and democracy of elections by monitoring the electoral process from its inception until the announcement of the final results through local monitoring teams in all governorates.
• The Observatory calls on international oversight bodies, such as the European Union, the Carter Center, and the National Democratic Institute, to contribute to providing international oversight of the elections.