Jerusalem: The list of candidates running in upcoming legislative elections as part of “Independent Palestine”, was officially announced by the head of the list, Dr. Mustafa Barghouthi, at a press conference held today in East Jerusalem.
Dr. Barghouthi, who was joined by Mr. Raja Shahadeh, Mr. Kamal Hassouneh, and Mr. Eyad Masroujeh, began the conference by underlining the significance of its location. He drew attention to the fact that East Jerusalem remains under Israeli occupation, and re-iterated Palestinian demands that it should serve as the capital of a future Palestinian state. Independent Palestine is the only list standing in Legislative elections to have made such a political gesture thus far, despite the risks involved.
He emphasised the historic nature of the event, in that the Coalition brings together a wide spectrum of Palestinian society on a unified platform, in a context characterized by profound externally-imposed physical fragmentation, and internal political divisions,
The coalition consists of independents, business leaders, academics, writers, women, youth, labour movements, and the Palestinian National Initiative (PNI, or “Al Mubadara” in Arabic), and draws upon widespread grassroots support.
It provides a truly democratic and independent “third way” for the large majority of silent and unrepresented Palestinian voters, who favour neither the autocracy and corruption of the governing Fatah party, nor the fundamentalism of Hamas.
It remains free of any ties with entrenched and well-established political parties such as Fatah and Hamas. Dr. Barghouthi added that while the coalition is open to cooperation with other parties and lists, it will not permit its agenda to be co-opted, and will not compromise on its demands for far-reaching internal reforms, including:
- An end to corruption, nepotism and political patronage;
- The building of efficient, democratic, modern and transparent institutions;
- Ensuring good governance through the actual separation of powers between the executive, judiciary and legislative branches;
- Enforcing the rule of law;
- The complete overhaul of the numerous security forces towards the creation of a professional service that ensures greater security for ordinary Palestinians; and
- Socio-economic programs and development policies that benefit the Palestinian people.
In addition, the Coalition has formed a council composed of 101 leaders from all sectors of Palestinian society, headed by Dr. Haider Abdel Shafi, to which candidates are directly responsible. In turn, it will support candidates with comprehensive policies and programmes, and will produce a shadow cabinet.
In terms of external demands, the Independent Palestine coalition seeks a just peace and an end to the occupation in all its manifestations, including:
- The dismantlement of the Apartheid Wall and all illegal settlements in the West Bank and East Jerusalem; and
- The release of all Palestinian political prisoners who continue to be held in Israeli jails.
To this end, the coalition calls for unified, popular, non-violent resistance against the Occupation, and for an international peace conference to be held in order to revive the process towards resolving the conflict.
The List
The list running for Legislative elections is composed of 41 candidates, 8 of whom are women, representing 15 districts throughout the West Bank, East Jerusalem, and Gaza Strip.
- Dr. Mustafa Kamel Mustafa Barghouthi, General Secretary, Palestinian National Initiative
- Rawia Rashad Saeed Al-Shawa (Ms), PLC Member
- Mohammad Kemal Ibrahim Hassouneh, Head, Palestinian Businessmen Association
- Mohammad Yousef Ihsain Dahman, Lawyer
- Allam Mohammad Kamel Jarrar, Medical Doctor
- Talal Fares Sha’aban A’sharif, Medical Doctor
- Amal Bakker Mohammad Said Khreishe (Ms), Head, Palestinian Working Women’s Society for Development
- Samer Ahmad Baddawi Anabtawi, Business Leader
- Ziad Mohammad Issa Amro, Former Head, General Union of the Disabled
- Bassem Subhi Farah Khouri Nasser, Business Leader
- Omar Mohammad Jasser Thurrah, Business Leader
- Layla Ahmad Mustafa Wafi (Ms), Psychologist
- Elie Adamoun Habib Shihadi, Business Leader
- Mazen Abu Shamsiyyeh
- Sliman Mohammad Sliman Dweikat, Retired Teacher
- Amin Kleib Abu Mustafa, Business Leader
- Suhad Mohammad Hashem Shreim (Ms), Social & Political Activist
- Abdel Karim Abdel Latif Assad Odeh, NGO Representative
- Khalil Moussa Khalil Al-Layhreymeh, Lawyer
- Kamal Kamel Hassan Zaid, Pharmacist
- Fares Abdel Hameed Imjahid Imjahid, Lecturer, University of Hebron
- Nawal Mohammad Abdel Karim Istati (Ms), NGO Representative
- Amin Abdel Karim Ahmad Abdallah, Business Leader
- Yousef Khader Mahmoud Sa’ada, NGO Representative
- Othman Mohammad Othman Abu Subha, Medical Doctor
- Ihsain Mohammad Farah A’tawil, Trade Union Leader
- Nadia Mohammad Yahiya Nouweh Natsheh (Ms), NGO Representative
- Hussam Abdallah Ghanim Bani Shamseh, Business Leader
- Bashir Ibrahim Khalil Shahin, Lawyer
- Hassan Abdel Mahdi Isbay Isbay
- Radia Abdel Rahman Ahmad Badwan (Ms), Nurse
- Khalid Yousef Sliman Badran
- Fouad Ahmad Mohammad Dawabshe, Retired Teacher
- A’adi Abdel Wahed Moussa Al-Hindi, Engineer
- A’isha Mahmoud Mustafa Sayfi (Ms), Housewife
- Nassif Tawfiq Hassan Dar I’deek, Activist, Popular Committee Against the Wall
- Yousef Abdel Majid Issa Tamayseh, Member, Palestinian National Initiative
- Eyad Mahammad Mahmoud Masroujeh, Business Leader
- Mohammad Taher Assad Ali, Advocacy/Solidarity Group Leader
- Mohammad Deeb Odeh Abu Mahadi, Trade Union Activist
- Mohammad Khalid Tawfiq Mohammad Khalid As’sayfi, Medical Doctor
The Council
The Coalition Council is composed of 101 members, 24 of whom are women, and includes the 41 candidates. It is headed by Dr. Haider Abdel Shafi.
Dr. Haider Abdel Shafi
Dr. Abdel Hafid Al-Ash’hab
Hatem Al-Anabtawi
Mohammad Al-Masroujeh
Dr. Riad Mashal
Ilhaj Zeydan Ajjabari
Nasif Abu Shousheh
Dr. Gaby Baramki
Dr. Ramsey Rihan
Farida Al-Amed (Ms)
Nahla Al-Assali (Ms)
Umayma Al-Mukhtadi (Ms)
Shahta Abu Taya (Ms)
Nidal Abu Farha
Ifaf Shatara (Ms)
Tamam Iskander (Ms)
A’id Yaghi
Jihad Said
Dr. Abdel Rahman A’tamimi
Maha Abu Dayyeh (Ms)
Dr. Afnan Darwazeh (Ms)
Ali Hamoudeh
Hind Al-Bunduq (Ms)
Fayez Mansour
Rayeda A’shouaibeh (Ms)
Muwakeb Massad (Ms)
Imad Assader
Wahid Mashal
Hussein Abu Mansour
Rinad Al-Kabbage (Ms)
Samir Al-Barghouthi
Jamal Ruzeh
Majdi Ashour
Mustafa Abu Sharq
Ahmed Al-Wishahi
Muhsem Abu Ramadan
Mohammad Abu Miheydi
Sa’ed Sadaqa
Ibrahim Al-Barghouthi
Sami Al-Bahdari
Mohammad Odeh
Lamal Hourani (Ms)
Itimad Mohannah (Ms)
Jihad Mashal
Sliman Odeh
Hassan Amrou
Moussa Siyam
Samer Houwash (Ms) Haifa Baramki (Ms)
George Giacaman
Abdel Hadi Abu Khousa
Ahmad Arrar
Salah Al-Khawajeh
Thoraya Alayyan (Ms)
Dr. Abdel Al-Jawwad Al-Hammouri
Sa’ed Jasser
Omar Jilad
Ismail Al-Habash
Hassan A’shaer
Abdel Hameed Fares