FEBRUARY2007
One year’s denial of democracy in Palestine
Israel, the United States of America and the European Union bear the responsibility!
On 25
January 2006 free and democratic elections were held to
choose a new Palestinian Legislative Council (PLC), which
received universal praise for the exemplary way in which
they were conducted. The outcome was that Hamas emerged
as the strongest power and the designated Government.
Since the election the governments of
the United States of America, the European Union and
Israel have enforced a paralysing boycott of Hamas,
inflicting collective punishment on the entire
Palestinian population of the Gaza Strip and the West
Bank.
With the declared aim of obstructing
the Hamas Government Israel has, since March 2006,
withheld the tax money raised in the Occupied Territories
and due to the Palestinian Authority. Payments to
maintain public services and a guaranteed minimum social
security, agreed on in accordance with the Fourth Geneva
Convention, are also being withheld by the European Union
and the United States. This has made it impossible for
the Palestinian Authority to pay salaries and maintain
even the usual services. All staff members of the
Authority, including teachers, doctors and policemen have
gone unpaid for almost an entire year. Donations from
Arab States, international and private sources do not
reach the population of the Occupied Territories. Hunger,
deprivation and despair are the consequence.
The elected government has not been
given the opportunity to govern. In June 2006 64
officials, including 8 Ministers and 20 other
Parliamentarians, were arrested by the Israeli army.
Other functionaries in politics and society have since
been living underground.
It is obvious that Israel refuses to
negotiate with any Palestinian partner, no matter which
party is in power. Supported by the governments of the EU
and USA the Israeli occupiers have now proceeded to even
deny the Palestinians a government and political
leaders their own free choice.
Today, one year after the Palestinian
elections, the Executive Committee of the European Jews
for a Just Peace condemns the boycott, siege and
collective punishment of the entire Palestinian
population, which has reached inhuman and catastrophic
levels in all parts of the Gaza Strip, East Jerusalem and
the West Bank. Together with many other peace and
solidarity groups we call on the governments in Europe
and the USA to end the boycott of the Palestinian
government and the collective punishment of the
Palestinian people in the Occupied Territories.
Only with unbiased, honest, and fair
negotiations between all parties concerned and a complete
end to the Israeli occupation can a solution to the
conflict be reached, a solution which will be beneficial
for Palestinians and Israelis alike.
The European Union must end the
boycott of a democratically elected government and demand
the release of democratically elected legislators.
European Jews for a Just Peace, with members and contacts
in many member states of the EU intends a series of
meetings with Commissioners and MEPs to press these
demands.
Executive Committee
European Jews for a Just Peace
25 January 2007