Candidates for the upcoming Palestinian Legislative Council elections held today a sit-in outside the Orient House in occupied Jerusalem to affirm the right of the Palestinian people in the occupied capital to cast their ballots in the upcoming legislative vote, scheduled for May 22.
Israel has so far not responded to the Palestinian Authority’s request to arrange the elections in occupied East Jerusalem, together with the rest of the occupied territories, since under signed agreements Israel is expected to allow elections in six post centers in the occupied capital, as was the case in the 1996 and 2006 elections.
The participants waved flags of Palestine and chanted slogans that condemned the ongoing escalation by Israeli far-right settler groups and occupation forces in Jerusalem.
Nader Salaymeh, a candidate who attended the sit-in, said the Palestinian people in occupied Jerusalem believe that unless elections are allowed in the holy city, it will be impossible to hold the elections elsewhere.
He told WAFA correspondent that all the candidates are eager to push forward for a democratic process in the occupied capital without any disruptions or tensions with the Israeli occupation forces.
Last night, the occupied city of Jerusalem has seen protests for 11 days in protest against Israeli police and settlers’ provocations and assaults on the city’s Palestinian residents, while events expanded to reach the West Bank and Gaza Strip.
The Palestinian Red Crescent said it treated 20 people injured in the clashes with police in and around the old city of Jerusalem, four of them were transferred to hospitals in the city while the rest were treated at the location.
