The International Organization to Support the Palestinian People’s Rights (Hashd) said on Tuesday that it is following with deep concern the escalating media leaks regarding the possibility of the president issuing a decree to cancel the procedure and organize the third legislative elections, scheduled to take place next month, under the justification of the continued Israeli refusal to hold them in Jerusalem.

The organization confirmed in a statement that reached Safa that issuing any decision that involves stopping, disrupting, canceling, or postponing the electoral process at this time is considered an unjustified acquiescence to Israeli arrogance.

"What happened during the past few days of the heroic challenge of the Jerusalemites to the Israeli policies must be matched by more political effort to impose the holding of elections in Jerusalem, especially since international law considers Israel as an occupying military power that does not have the right to obstruct or prevent the holding of the public Palestinian elections in East Jerusalem or any area of the occupied Palestinian territories in 1967.

Hashd stressed that Israel is bound by the signed agreements, international covenants and covenants, international humanitarian law and human rights, and the advisory opinion of the Hague Court on the Wall of 2004, to respect the right of Jerusalemites to participate in the elections as an expression of the right to self-determination."

Also, completing the electoral process is a constitutional and national necessity, which should be at the forefront of the priorities of the Palestinian leadership, while at the same time appreciating the efforts of the Central Elections Committee that are being made to prepare for the elections.

It was confirmed that the idea of postponing or canceling the legislative elections in rejected at all.

It emphasized that the international community and its various organizations have a duty and responsibility that requires their serious work to pressure Israel to enable the Palestinian people to exercise all their legitimate rights, including the right to freely and democratically elect and choose their representatives.

Besides, it stressed the right of the people of Jerusalem to exercise their right to choose their candidates in the Palestinian legislative elections.

Hashd urged the Palestinian presidency not to issue any decision that would halt the electoral process and strive for the necessity to impose it in Jerusalem, and not surrender to the arrogance of Israel.

The electoral lists and the Palestinian factions called for the necessity to strive to adhere to the scheduled and announced dates for holding the elections.

Source : Safa