Ref: 122/2011

The Palestinian Centre for Human Rights (PCHR)
welcomes the positive atmosphere that spread over the first phase of the Egyptian
parliamentary elections, which were held on 28 and 29 November 2011.  These elections are the second of their kind
in the Arab world under the new period known as “the Arab Spring”, as
legislative elections were held in Tunisia in the beginning of November amidst
a positive environment that reflected the will of the Tunisian electorate
according to all domestic and international observers.  PCHR hopes that these elections will lay
foundations for a new era of freedom and democracy not only in Egypt and Tunisia, but also throughout the
Arab world. 

PCHR aspires to a new era of the Arab world’s
transition into democratic governance based on respect for public liberties,
pluralism and human rights, in which periodic elections serve as the sole
mechanism to select rulers, and laying foundations for democratic reform under
which the Arab human dignity is maintained and Arab peoples have
self-determination after long decades of deprivation of active and real
political participation.  We strongly
believe that democracy is a source of strength for the Arab world and the Arab
nation to launch its energy and creativity to build a better future for the
next generations in an atmosphere of freedom and dignity for all. 

We fully realize that we are still witnessing
the beginning of such democratic reform. 
Regardless of difficulties and obstacles facing it, what has happened
confirms that the Arab peoples are able to make changes, take the initiative
and find solutions.  In this context,
PCHR stresses the need to uphold the principle of periodic elections and
respect for rights and public liberties, with having constitutional guarantees
to maintain these rights, which would lay foundations for periodic elections
and also ensure holding them regularly. 

We are certain that this change in the Arab
region constitutes a strategic significance for the Palestinian people that
aspire to freedom, ending the Israeli occupation of Palestinian territories and
establishing an independent, sovereign state on their land like all peoples of
the world. 

The positive atmosphere of elections in both
Egypt and Tunisia and acceptance of their results send a strong message to
world powers that democratic reform and its continuation are the fundamental
guarantee for respect for human rights and public liberties, especially as
world powers, particularly the United States of America, sacrificed the values
of human rights and democracy, supported dictatorial and totalitarian regimes,
and placed political considerations above the interests of people and the
values and principles of democracy and human rights. 

It is time for the international community to
strongly support and facilitate the fledgling Arab democracies.  A new stage of bilateral relations between
the Arab world and the rest of the world, especially Europe and the United States,
should begin.  Such relations should be
based on mutual respect and on respect for the values of human rights, freedom
and justice. 

It is time for the international community also
to reconsider all false policies adopted against the Palestinian National
Authority and the Palestinian people following the fair and transparent
legislative elections that were held in January 2006, as Palestinian civilians
have continued to pay a heavy price because of these policies.