Dr. Mustafa Barghouthi, Head of the Independent Palestine coalition, gave a press conference at Qalandia Checkpoint this afternoon following his release from the Russian Compound jail at approximately 16:00.
Dr. Barghouthi was arrested this morning whilst on a tour of the Old City as part of the Legislative election campaign, which officially began today.
He had been meeting with ordinary Jerusalemites near Damascus Gate, discussing their needs and the situation of Palestinians in East Jerusalem, when he was approached by six undercover Israeli security agents, and arrested
Barghouthi‘s lawyer was informed by Israeli soldiers that the candidate‘s presence in the city was illegal, and that, like other West Bankers, he would require a permit to enter Jerusalem in the future.
Speaking to reporters, Dr. Barghouthi rejected the idea of seeking Israeli permission to travel to Jerusalem, stating that the risk of arrest would not prevent him from returning to the city in which he was born. He pointed to his arrest as further evidence of Israel’s long-term efforts to undermine the democratic process in Palestine.
He reaffirmed that East Jerusalem continues to form part of the Occupied Palestinian Territories (OPT), and that it should serve as the capital of a future Palestinian state.
He also reported that he had spoken with EU Chief Observer to the PLC elections, Veronique De Keyser, to request that the EU take immediate action to pressurise Israel into lifting its proposed ban on voting in East Jerusalem.
Dr. Barghouthi called on all Palestinians to protect the democratic process, and the right of East Jerusalemites to vote, by preparing to conduct balloting on a street-by-street, and door-to-door basis as a form of peaceful, non-violent resistance against Israeli measures.