The Palestinian Political Situation

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Although almost entirely unreported in the New York Times and the rest of the American media, Israeli forces substantially interfered with the Palestinian democratic process, arresting a number of Palestinian electoral candidates.

Mustafa Barghouti, for example, a widely respected physician who has long advocated both nonviolence and the right Palestinian refugees to return to their homes, was arrested twice. During one of these arrests, he was beaten up by soldiers.

In addition, a 17 year-old volunteer was shot dead by Israeli soldiers as he put up posters for Barghouti in a Gaza refugee camp.

A formal complaint about this tragic event and other serious harassment faced by Palestinian presidential campaigners, volunteers, and candidates has been lodged with the EU Election Observation Mission.