Cancellation of Palestinian Elections, Evacuations in Sheikh Jarrah – 4 May 2021 Daily Press Briefing – (Excerpts)

4 MAY 2021

The following is a near-verbatim transcript of today’s noon briefing by Stéphane Dujarric, Spokesman for the Secretary-General.

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Questions and Answers

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Question:  Thank you, Stéphane.  So, you issued a statement last week on the postpone… the announcement of the Palestinian Authority President that… Mahmoud Abbas that he’s going to postpone the elections.  But as a matter of fact, he’s actually cancelling the elections, and a lot of Palestinian human rights organizations and… said that that… and… oh, let’s put it this way.  One of the reasons that he named is the issue of Jerusalem and that Israel is not allowing Palestinians in Jerusalem to vote, which is true, but Palestinian human rights organizations also saying that his party in the polling is down and that one of the reasons he cancelled these elections is probably because left-wing parties and Hamas will win more seats.  So, do you have more to say than just taking note on this issue?

Spokesman:  Well, I mean, obviously, this is something that the Special Coordinator’s office is following very closely.  And it is, I’m sure, no doubt, coming up in the discussions they’re having with various interlocutors.  What is important is that the Palestinians are able to express their will through the ballot box, and we hope that, whether it’s issues related to intra-Palestinian issues or issues having to do with the rights of Palestinians in the occupied territories or especially in East Jerusalem having the ability to vote, we hope all those issues will be resolved so that Palestinians are able to vote.

Question:  But they don’t… I mean, there is no new date.  These elections are cancelled.  Do you think that this is…  [cross talk]

Spokesman:  Well, we do… we hope that a date is fixed.  It is not up to us to fix that date, but this is something that is being discussed with the various interlocutors.

We think… as Mr. [Tor] Wennesland said, we think it’s very important that a date is fixed.  We welcome the holding of the elections when it was announced, and we do think that these elections need to be held.

Question:  And do you say that this is unacceptable step to cancel such elections, although all factions are actually against such step, except for…

Spokesman:  Look, to say that it’s a complex political environment, I think, would be underplaying it.  Our position and one that we are expressing privately and publicly, is that elections… it is very important that a date for the elections be set.

Question:  On… if I may, on Israel and Palestine but a different subject, on the Sheikh Jarrah neighbourhood in Jerusalem, I know that this is a very compli… I mean, there is about 3,000 Palestinians who live in this neighbourhood, and they face evictions since years.  And the story of Sheikh Jarrah has another story in Jerusalem, but the situation of the people who are facing eviction has to do actually with ’48 and the fact that, in 1948, they were displaced from west Jerusalem, and you couldn’t go back.  And the UNRWA (United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees) back then built some of these houses that they were being now evicted from, where settlers could go and take these houses.

What are you doing to help them?  Did Mr. Wennesland visit these families?  Because I saw that several European diplomats went there and visit families.  Thank you.

Spokesman:  I don’t know if Mr. Wennesland went in person.  I can tell you that we’re very much aware of the situation that is ongoing in Sheikh Jarrah.  We’re following it closely.

Our position, which remains unchanged, is that all settlement activities, including the evictions and demolitions, are illegal under international law.  Security Council resolution, I think, 2334, and the international community will not recognize any change to the 1967 June lines, including with regard to Jerusalem, other than those agreed to by the parties themselves through negotiations.

Question:  Is there anything that is being done to help these families?

Spokesman:  I will check with our colleagues on the ground, especially with UNRWA, if they’re doing any… if there are any practical steps being taken.

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For information media. Not an official record.