Democracy is Our Right
The Palestine Monitor calls upon the international community to immediately intervene and put pressure on Israel to re-open the ballot offices in East Jerusalem. In an attempt to halt the registration process and deter Palestinian voters from participating in their democratic electoral right, the Israeli occupation forces, have raided and closed six registration centers in Jerusalem. Israel constantly invokes the claim to be the only democracy in the Middle East and criticizes the Palestinian Authority’s stalling over elections. However, the Israeli ongoing occupation and military escalation in the OPT serve to further justify the Palestinian Authority’s suspension of elections. Now that the Palestinians are attempting to participate freely in elections, Israeli occupation forces are taking further deliberate measures intended to sabotage the election and reform processes by driving away Jerusalem residents from the registration centers. By shutting down the Palestinian elections offices in occupied east Jerusalem, and by detaining nine workers and seizing all voter registration lists, Israel is depriving Palestinians from holding elections and reform, and therefore building their nation in a free, democratic and peaceful manner. TAKE ACTION The Palestine Monitor calls upon a large mobilization of international public opinion on behalf of the Palestinian people demanding that those with power and responsibility act to re-open the offices. Talking Points for letters: - Immediate intervention to demand the right of Palestinians to conduct free elections. - A call for governments to unequivocally condemn Israel's closure of registration centers. - Support the Central Elections Commission (CEC) is an independent body responsible for the administration and supervision of the Palestinian National elections and is supported by the EU. We urge all concerned individuals and organizations to act immediately and without delay and contact the following US, UN, UK, and European Union representatives (Readers outside the United States are encouraged to contact their national political representatives. Contact information can typically be tracked down quickly by searching with Google.com): United States Representatives President George Bush Jr. 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. NW Washington DC 20500 e-mail: president@whitehouse.gov Tel. 202-456-1414
US Secretary of State Colin Powell 2201 C St. NW Washington DC 20520 e-mail: secretary@state.gov (State Dept. Tel switchboard 202-647-4000) fax: 202-736 4461
US Ambassador to Israel Daniel Kurtzer Tel: (+972-3) 519-7575; e-mail: webmaster@usembassy-israel.org.il Your member of Congress -- Call the Capitol switchboard toll-free on 1-800-839-5276 and ask to be connected to your member of Congress. United Nations General Telephone: (212) 963-1234 Fax for Kofi Annan's office: (212) 963-7055 e-mail: inquiries@un.org Permanent Missions to the United Nations European Union Representatives EU Presidency e-mail: eu@taoiseach.gov.ie
High Representative for the Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP) for the European Union Javier Solana Tel: +32 (0)2-285-6467 or +32 (0)476-93-6426; e-mail: presse.cabinet@consilium.eu.int UK Representatives UK Prime Minister Tony Blair e-mail or Fax via Downing Street website: www.number-10.gov.uk Appeals should be sent to: Prime Minister Ariel Sharon Office of the Prime Minister 3 Kaplan Street, P O Box 187 Jerusalem 91919, Israel Telegram: Prime Minister, Jerusalem, Israel Fax: +972 2 6705475 Telex: 25279 MPRES IL e-mail: rohm@pmo.gov.il
Minister of Justice Yosef Lapid Ministry of Justice 29 Salah al-Din Street Jerusalem 91010 Israel Telegram: Justice Minister, Jerusalem, Israel Fax: +972 2 6285438 E-mail: sar@justice.gov.il http://www.miftah.org |