INDEPENDENT NEWS

Cablegate: Jerusalem Media Reaction (11/13): Palestinian Central

Published: Fri 13 Nov 2009 06:34 AM
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SUBJECT: JERUSALEM MEDIA REACTION (11/13): Palestinian Central
Elections Commission says it must postpone elections
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Main Stories:
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The local press highlights news on the chairman of the Central
Elections Commission Hanna Nasser announcing yesterday that the
commission does not have the capacity to hold elections on January
24 due to Hamas' rejection of the elections. Nasser said in a press
conference that the commission sent a letter to Palestinian
Authority (PA) President Mahmoud Abbas explaining the situation,
noting that it is not up to the commission to decide when to hold
elections if they are not held on the 24th.
Maan and the three dailies report on Nabil Abu Rudeina, spokesperson
for the PA Office of the President, saying that President Abbas will
issue a decision "in light of this development" following
consultations with Palestinian institutions and Basic Law experts.
Abu Rudeina accused Hamas of imposing a ban on the Central Elections
Commission from entering Gaza, calling it "evidence that Hamas does
not value the unity of the homeland or national reconciliation."
The coverage also quotes Hamas official in Gaza Sami Abu Zuhiri as
saying that he was not surprised that the elections would be
postponed, adding that "this is a natural result of the lack of
appropriate conditions" to hold elections and that "it is evidence
of the credibility of Hamas' position, which rejected the call for
elections before reconciliation is achieved."
Secretary General of the Arab League Amer Mousa's announcement that
the Palestinian national reconciliation dialogue will restart after
the Adha feast in Egypt receives front page coverage in the
dailies.
Al-Quds front pages news on settlers from Yitzhar settlement near
Nablus city in the northern West Bank attacking the Palestinian
citizens of Boureen village and cutting down more than 80 olive
trees yesterday.
Al-Quds front pages news on Palestinian Human Rights and legal
institutions condemning the Hamas attack against Ramattan news
agency and its refusal to allow any commemoration events on the 5th
anniversary of Arafat's death.
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BLOCK QUOTES:
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Adel Abdel Rahman opines in Al-Hayat Al-Jadida official daily under
the title "The Elections and the Veto," (11/13): "The Central
Elections Commission announcement that they cannot hold the
elections demonstrates weakness ... It shows that the Commission has
given in to Hamas ... Clearly Hamas is obstructing any national
principle that would end the state of division and retain the
national unity. I call upon Hanna Nasser [the head of the Central
Elections Commission] not to give in to Hamas and to find any
mechanism to hold elections on time."
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Cartoon of the week:
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This cartoon appeared in Al-Hayat Al-Jadida official daily on
November 12. It shows President Obama repeating his campaign slogan
"Yes We Can" while an ironic translation of the word "can" is
illustrated. "Can" in Arabic stands for the state of the past tense
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meaning "it was," demonstrating that Obama's slogans are from the
past and no longer valid.
RUBINSTEIN
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