This piece was reprinted by OpEd News with permission or license. It may not be reproduced in any form without permission or license from the source.
On October 10, the Los Angeles Times headlined "Palestinian voters skeptical about value of elections."
Hebron City Council aspirant Maysoun Qawasmi expressed popular frustration, saying:
"We are seeing the same people running, and they aren't offering anything new. Voters are looking for independent voices."
In fact, they want officials representing them, not Israel. Abbas and Fayyad won't tolerate them. Everything is arranged for Fatah candidates to win. "They always win," said Qawasmi. "And nothing ever changes."
One Palestinian perhaps spoke for others, saying:
"I don't understand how we can have elections in just half the territory. I don't even know who's running."
Given a rigged process, Hamas opted out. Doing so got Abbas/Fayyad to hold elections they might have cancelled otherwise, knowing they might lose. They tolerate no opposition.
They crack down hard against challengers. They mock democratic freedoms. They represent despot authority. They're complicit Israeli puppet stooges.
They dismissed about 50 Fatah members wanting to run as independents. Prominent former Nablus Mayor Ghassan Shaka'a was bumped illegitimately.
Next Page 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9
(Note: You can view every article as one long page if you sign up as an Advocate Member, or higher).
