Presidential election in Palestine
It is Sunday the 9th of January 2005, the day when the Palestinians will elect their new president. I can not be in Palestine without experiencing the feelings around the election, I think, and I go to the election office in East Jerusalem, the post office just outside the Old City.
In the morning I meet a group of young Israelis demonstrating a few streets away from the election office. They do not speak much English, but I understand that they are against the Palestinians voting in East Jerusalem. It means, I understand that they want the Palestinians away from here, and that they might vote another place. East Jerusalem is part of the capital of Israel, they say, and the Palestinians do not belong here. I am on my way to church and I do not have time to discuss with them, or I do not think it will help. But I have a bit bad conscience, and I am happy about the absolution and intercessions for the election in the service.
After lunch I go to the election office with pen and paper and photo camera. I want to get an understanding of the Palestinians’ thoughts about the election. The first I talk to is a woman who does not have much time, but wants to say some words anyway. Huda expects Abu Mazen (Mahmoud Abbas) to win, but she will give her vote for another, to underline the pluralism and show that there are several candidates. She is sad that the Palestinians not even can control the election in East Jerusalem themselves. “We have no control with our own politics when we live under occupation,” she says.
The next one I talk to is a young girl who has given her vote for Abu Mazen. “He deserves it. He is a good negotiator who will make life easier for us. I hope and believe there will be a change when I vote for him,” Nareeman says. She is one of the most optimistic I have talked to, with a faith in a Palestinian state in 1-2 years. But she is afraid East Jerusalem will be part of Israel. “Then I will move. I want to live in Palestine.”
Then I meet a man who answers in Norwegian when I tell that I am from Norway. He studied two years in Norway. That was long before I was born, and so he has forgotten most of the language. But our talk starts with some memories from Norway before we start the political analysis. Yousef has voted for Mustafa Barghouti, because he thinks it is a need for new blood in the Palestinian leadership. Barghouti is young and different. “But the propaganda will make Abu Mazen win,” he says. ”We are a sad people. There will never be peace here.” Yousef is not the most optimistic. ”Israel and Sharon do not believe in peace. Therefore we will never have peace. They said they did not have any partner for negotiation when Arafat was our president. They will say the same after a month with Abu Mazen. We are a sad people,” he says again. Yousef says he hopes to meet me in Norway once. I say I hope for a Palestinian state, so that he does not need to wish to leave this place. He says that we can hope for both, that we will meet in Norway, and that there will be a Palestinian state. I agree.
I see a girl I met at the post office a few days earlier. She recognizes me and is willing to answer my questions about the election. Samah has voted for Taysser Khaled. “He is the one who can do something. He is honest.” She does not believe that he will win. Abu Mazen will win. He does what Israel wants him to do. Khaled would have done what the Palestinian people want him to do. “Of course Abu Mazen does what Israel wants him to do, if not, he could not keep his position.” She does a movement like with a gun in her hand, and I understand what she means that Israel will do to somebody who does not cooperate according to their will.
While we are talking, a man starts shouting over the place in front of the post office. People gather around him, and I ask what is going on. Samah says that he tells them not to vote. He shouts that it is wrong according to the Qur’an. I do not understand, I do not know that the Qur’an says anything against elections. Samah explains that the man shouting wants an Islamic state. None of the candidates will implement Islamic law in the society, and so there is no candidate to vote for. The man shouting says that those who vote, vote for giving the country to Israel. The new president will receive orders from Israel, and that is a sin. The shouting one is taken care of by people around. People have come to vote. Samah feels unsure. ”Have I sinned?” she asks. She is really upset about this that she might have done something wrong. I try to convince her that her conscience must speak more clearly to her than what this man says, but it does not help much. “It is not easy to know what is right and wrong when we do not have much experience with elections. I want to be a good Muslim and follow the Qur’an. At the same time I want a change, and then I have to vote, right?”
Samah is on her way home to her daughters. She asks if I want to join her. I do. The bus journey is not long, but on our way she manages to point at several houses in the former Arabic neighbourhood now bought by Jews. “They want control over the whole area because it is not far from the Western wall. They will tear down the Dome of the Rock and the Al Aqsa mosque and send us far away. Can you see how nice view we have; there is the Dome of the Rock?” The two daughters meet us on the way. The talk turns into the subjects of family and religion, and I experience the great hospitality of an unknown, who has now become a friend, after I have by chance met her twice the last days. The politics have to wait for a while, until the eldest daughter asks what the purple colour on her mother’s finger is. It shows that she has voted, and the mother tries to explain for the 6-year-old what this day might do for her and the whole Palestinian people’s future.
Hanne Tommelstad
GoCY Intern, YWCA of Palestine
In the morning I meet a group of young Israelis demonstrating a few streets away from the election office. They do not speak much English, but I understand that they are against the Palestinians voting in East Jerusalem. It means, I understand that they want the Palestinians away from here, and that they might vote another place. East Jerusalem is part of the capital of Israel, they say, and the Palestinians do not belong here. I am on my way to church and I do not have time to discuss with them, or I do not think it will help. But I have a bit bad conscience, and I am happy about the absolution and intercessions for the election in the service.
After lunch I go to the election office with pen and paper and photo camera. I want to get an understanding of the Palestinians’ thoughts about the election. The first I talk to is a woman who does not have much time, but wants to say some words anyway. Huda expects Abu Mazen (Mahmoud Abbas) to win, but she will give her vote for another, to underline the pluralism and show that there are several candidates. She is sad that the Palestinians not even can control the election in East Jerusalem themselves. “We have no control with our own politics when we live under occupation,” she says.
The next one I talk to is a young girl who has given her vote for Abu Mazen. “He deserves it. He is a good negotiator who will make life easier for us. I hope and believe there will be a change when I vote for him,” Nareeman says. She is one of the most optimistic I have talked to, with a faith in a Palestinian state in 1-2 years. But she is afraid East Jerusalem will be part of Israel. “Then I will move. I want to live in Palestine.”
Then I meet a man who answers in Norwegian when I tell that I am from Norway. He studied two years in Norway. That was long before I was born, and so he has forgotten most of the language. But our talk starts with some memories from Norway before we start the political analysis. Yousef has voted for Mustafa Barghouti, because he thinks it is a need for new blood in the Palestinian leadership. Barghouti is young and different. “But the propaganda will make Abu Mazen win,” he says. ”We are a sad people. There will never be peace here.” Yousef is not the most optimistic. ”Israel and Sharon do not believe in peace. Therefore we will never have peace. They said they did not have any partner for negotiation when Arafat was our president. They will say the same after a month with Abu Mazen. We are a sad people,” he says again. Yousef says he hopes to meet me in Norway once. I say I hope for a Palestinian state, so that he does not need to wish to leave this place. He says that we can hope for both, that we will meet in Norway, and that there will be a Palestinian state. I agree.
I see a girl I met at the post office a few days earlier. She recognizes me and is willing to answer my questions about the election. Samah has voted for Taysser Khaled. “He is the one who can do something. He is honest.” She does not believe that he will win. Abu Mazen will win. He does what Israel wants him to do. Khaled would have done what the Palestinian people want him to do. “Of course Abu Mazen does what Israel wants him to do, if not, he could not keep his position.” She does a movement like with a gun in her hand, and I understand what she means that Israel will do to somebody who does not cooperate according to their will.
While we are talking, a man starts shouting over the place in front of the post office. People gather around him, and I ask what is going on. Samah says that he tells them not to vote. He shouts that it is wrong according to the Qur’an. I do not understand, I do not know that the Qur’an says anything against elections. Samah explains that the man shouting wants an Islamic state. None of the candidates will implement Islamic law in the society, and so there is no candidate to vote for. The man shouting says that those who vote, vote for giving the country to Israel. The new president will receive orders from Israel, and that is a sin. The shouting one is taken care of by people around. People have come to vote. Samah feels unsure. ”Have I sinned?” she asks. She is really upset about this that she might have done something wrong. I try to convince her that her conscience must speak more clearly to her than what this man says, but it does not help much. “It is not easy to know what is right and wrong when we do not have much experience with elections. I want to be a good Muslim and follow the Qur’an. At the same time I want a change, and then I have to vote, right?”
Samah is on her way home to her daughters. She asks if I want to join her. I do. The bus journey is not long, but on our way she manages to point at several houses in the former Arabic neighbourhood now bought by Jews. “They want control over the whole area because it is not far from the Western wall. They will tear down the Dome of the Rock and the Al Aqsa mosque and send us far away. Can you see how nice view we have; there is the Dome of the Rock?” The two daughters meet us on the way. The talk turns into the subjects of family and religion, and I experience the great hospitality of an unknown, who has now become a friend, after I have by chance met her twice the last days. The politics have to wait for a while, until the eldest daughter asks what the purple colour on her mother’s finger is. It shows that she has voted, and the mother tries to explain for the 6-year-old what this day might do for her and the whole Palestinian people’s future.
Hanne Tommelstad
GoCY Intern, YWCA of Palestine
posted by Hanne at 7:31 AM
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