REFİF İSLIM

Gaza – Palestinian people would vote on May 22 for the Palestinian parliamentary and presidential elections after 15 years however, Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas has indefinitely postponed the elections for not being allowed to hold elections in east Jerusalem by Israel. Palestinian women, who waited for the elections with great enthusiasm, have supported the decision because the Palestinians in east Jerusalem couldn’t participate in the elections. “I felt bad when I heard the decision. We had made preparation for the elections for days but we respect this decision taken for the Palestinians living in east Jerusalem,” 23-year-old Nur El-Qitati said.

“The participation of people living in east Jerusalem is not a secondary matter”

28-year-old Hiba El-Ebadila also supports the decision of the postponement of elections, “Because the matter is about the sovereignty and existence of the Palestinian state. The participation of people living in east Jerusalem is not a secondary matter,” Hiba El-Ebadila said that Gaza needs elections to change its recent tragic situation.

“Palestinians have dreamed of a national government for 15 years”

24-year-old Semer Hicazi stated that they had waited for the elections with great excitement and she called for reviewing of the postponement of elections to not sacrifice the Palestinians’ dreams of improving the unity and living conditions of the Palestinian people. “Palestinians have dreamed of a national government for 15 years. Certainly, we must realize our dreams one day.”