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Quartet Statement on Palestinian
Legislative Council Elections
28 December 2005
The Quartet welcomes the upcoming Palestinian
Legislative Council elections as a positive step toward
consolidation of Palestinian democracy and the goal of a
two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
The Quartet calls on the Palestinian Authority and the
Central Elections Commission to ensure a free, fair, and
open process in accordance with Palestinian law. The
Quartet noted the continued importance of security in
this regard, and calls on the Palestinian Authority to
take immediate steps to ensure law and order, prevent
terrorist attacks and dismantle the infrastructure of
terrorism. The Palestinian Authority must also assure
the security of polling stations and of Central Election
Commission personnel, enforce existing law, regulations,
and decrees, particularly those prohibiting the public
display of weapons, external financing of campaigns, and
the use of religious facilities for campaign purposes.
The Quartet recalled its September 20 statement,
together with the Secretary General's subsequent
statement on behalf of the Quartet that ultimately those
who want to be part of the political process should not
engage in armed group or militia activities, for there
is a fundamental contradiction between such activities
and the building of a democratic state. In this regard,
the Quartet calls on all participants to renounce
violence, recognize Israel's right to exist, and disarm.
The Quartet is encouraged by the negotiation of a Code
of Conduct governing participation in the legislative
council election. It calls on all parties and candidates
in the Palestinian Legislative Council elections to
agree and fully adhere to this Code to ensure an
environment conducive to free and fair elections and
international observer support. The Quartet welcomed the
Palestinian Authority's invitation to international
election observers.
Furthermore, the Palestinian Authority should take
additional steps to ensure the democratic process
remains untainted by violence, by prohibiting political
parties from pursuing their aims through violent means,
and by moving expeditiously to codify this as
Palestinian law. In particular, the Quartet expressed
its view that a future Palestinian Authority Cabinet
should include no member who has not committed to the
principles of Israel's right to exist in peace and
security and an unequivocal end to violence and
terrorism.
The Quartet believes it is essential that direct
dialogue begin immediately between the Israeli
government and the Palestinian Authority to coordinate
preparations for the Legislative Council elections.
Proactive measures are essential to the movement of
voters, elections committee staff and materials, and
international observers throughout the election process,
as outlined in the Roadmap. Both parties should work to
put in place a mechanism to allow Palestinians resident
in Jerusalem to exercise their legitimate democratic
rights, in conformity with existing precedent. |
