Palestine Election, Shooting Incident – 1 April 2021 Daily Press Briefing – (Excerpts)

1 APRIL 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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Middle East

Staying in the region, the Special Coordinator for the peace process, Tor Wennesland, today welcomed progress made towards the Palestinian elections.

He said he is encouraged by the completion of the candidate submissions to the Central Elections Commission.  He called this an important step in the nomination process for the forthcoming Palestinian Legislative [Council] elections.

He called for all to respect the electoral process and to resolve any disputes in a peaceful manner through official legal mechanisms.  He stressed that all people must work towards protecting the people’s right to vote and to decide on their own political future, particularly young people.

The Special Coordinator added that the holding of credible and inclusive elections across the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including in East Jerusalem, is a crucial step towards renewing the legitimacy of national institutions, re-establishing Palestinian unity and charting a way back to meaningful negotiations to realize a two-State solution.

We will continue to support this election process.

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Questions and Answers

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Question:  Okay.  I have some questions on some other subjects, if that’s okay.  Palestinian elections, you just read out to us, given that Marwan Barghouti, the Palestinian prisoner, is now producing his own list to rival that of the Fatah list, there clearly is a bit of an upset.  Does the Secretary‑General commit and urge the rest of the international community and the rest of the Quartet to respect the results of this election, whatever the outcome?

Spokesman:  Yeah, I mean, there…  Elections are to be organized.  They should be, they should reflect the will of the people.  And, obviously, it is about respecting the outcome, as in any other election that is organized fairly and openly.

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Question:  Stéphane, I have two questions, one on the Palestinian elections.  Sorry, I missed the statement.  But the Palestinian Authorities say that they are going ahead with the preparation for the elections.  However, the [inaudible] of Jerusalem must be given the chance to participate in the elections.  There is…  they say there are no elections without the people of Jerusalem.  Israel so far is silent.  We don’t know they will allow it or not.

So, did the [Secretary-General] or his Special Representative speak to any Israeli official to allow the people of East Jerusalem to participate in the elections?

Spokesman:  Look, I think the Special Coordinator has said that the holding of these elections, including…  in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including in East Jerusalem, is a crucial step forward towards the renewal of the legitimacy of national Palestinian institutions, among others.  This is a message that he is conveying both privately and publicly.

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Question:  Somebody…  okay, thank you.  On Monday, 30 March, a Palestinian prisoner was released after 20 years of jail.  He served 20 years.  His name is Majd Barbar, B‑a‑r‑b‑a‑r, his last name.  On the next day, 31st, he was celebrating with his family and friends, his release.  They had set up a tent, and there were about, hundreds of people were celebrating.  Israeli occupation forces invaded the tent, shooting rubber bullets and teargas, injuring 12 people, and they arrested him less than 24 hours after his release, he’s still in jail.  The…  Are you aware of this…

Spokesman:  I am personally not aware, but just send me an email with the details, and I will ask our colleagues in Jerusalem.

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For information media. Not an official record.