Ref: 38/2008

Date: 12 October 2008

PCHR organizes a Third Roundtable Discussion on the Debate over the Presidential Term

In cooperation with the National Association of Democracy and Law (NADL), the Palestinian Center for Human Rights (PCHR) organized its third roundtable discussion on the debate over the presidential term on 12 October 2008 in NADL’s headquarter in Rafah.

Representatives of national factions, members of the Palestinian Legislative Council (PLC), community figures and academics attended the roundtable discussion that had been opened by Mr. Ibrahim Mu’ammar, Director of NADL. Mu’ammar presented a review of the two conflicting positions of both Fatah and Hamas movements on the presidential term.

Mr. Raji Sourani, Director of PCHR, pointed out that the ongoing political fragmentation destroyed the judiciary, legislative and executive authorities. He expressed hopes that the deadlock between the two conflicting parties is a jump boar that would make them overcome the political crisis.

Hamdi Shaqqura, Director of PCHR Democratic Development Unit, presented a position paper that PCHR had prepared earlier on the debate over the presidential term. Shaqqura highlighted the most significant elements of the paper and affirmed that PCHR completely supports holding the presidential elections, but not before creating the appropriate atmosphere and conditions for them. He warned of the inauguration of the PLC Acting Speaker as the new President in case the elections were not organized. He also warned such step would lead to further fragmentation.

Dr. Mohammed Hejazi, a PLC member for Fatah movement, emphasized the importance of dialogue. He added that democracy can never be realized without achieving reconciliation. He called for not separating the president’s office from the PLC in order to manage successful dialogue that can achieve reconciliation. Dr. Hejazi warned of the inauguration of the PLC Acting Speaker as the new President.

Nafez Ghnaim, member of People’s Party Central Committee, affirmed that the causes of the fragmentation and conflict are politically not legally motivated. He called for a political settlement for the crisis and for supporting the dialogue that will be held in Cairo. He also affirmed that dialogue and reconciliation are the key to settle the ongoing crisis. Ghnaim called for a compressive national movement to support the intended dialogue.

Mr. Sayed Baraka, Director of the al-Umma Forum for Development, praised PCHR’s position paper. He then called for unity and conciliation and for making efforts to make the dialogue in Cairo a success. Baraka said that Cairo dialogue is a historic opportunity that if not seized we would be all led to conditions worse than those in Iraq and Somalia. Baraka called upon those who are not affiliates of Fatah and Hamas to speak out and unify to exert pressure on the two conflicting parties to reach reconciliation. He called upon them to be witnesses of the events that would take place.

Ziad Jarghoun, member of the Central Committee of the Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine, warned of the consequences of the failure to reach a national reconciliation before 9 January 2009. He called for supporting the formation of a unity government to exit the ongoing crisis. He stressed the importance of national pressure towards realizing the national unity and ending the ongoing fragmentation.

Lawyer Ziad Abu Taha affirmed that the current crisis is essentially legal. He called for commitment to the law and for not leaving it to politicians. He affirmed that there is a must to establish a powerful and independent legal system and to ensure protection for it.

Ahmed Sha’ath, head of the Reconciliation Committee in Rafah, praised PCHR’s position paper. He invited participants to sign a document entitled “No for Fragmentation, Yes for Unity,” and the participants signed the document. 

Rasmi Abu al-‘Einein, member of the National Action Committee in Rafah, stressed that dialogue and reconciliation are the only option to settle the ongoing crisis and that the Palestinian people and the Palestinian cause are the only loser because of the ongoing fragmentation. He called upon the public to play a more effective role to stop the fragmentation and support the dialogue.

Anwar Sheikh al-Eid, from Future Facilitation Society, stated that fragmentation affected various aspects of life and he called for putting and end to the ongoing situation.

Finally, Mr. Sourani closed the discussion by saying that subjugating the law and attempts to use it for narrow interests are part of the ongoing political crisis. He affirmed that the crisis is political and has several manifestations. He concluded by explaining that the aim of discussing the debate over the presidential term is to deliver a message stating that we are on the edge of a black hole that we must not fall in because it would lead us to further fragmentation.

This was the third roundtable discussion that PCHR has organized on the debate over the presidential term. The two previous roundtables were organized on 22 September 2008 in Gaza City and on 28 September 2008 in Khan Yunis.