Jenin, 17-01-06: A meeting between Independent Palestine candidates and trade union representatives held today in Jenin focused on the Coalition’s break with the past, and its commitment to social justice.
The meeting was part a series of public discussions held by the Coalition today in Qabatiya, Zababdeh, Ajeh, Al Funduqumiyeh, Ar-Rabeh, Tubas, Al-Jdida, led by Dr. Barghouthi and other Independent Palestine candidates, including Dr. Allam Jarrar and Ms. Nawal Steiteh, and independent candidate Mr. Mohammad Abu Il-Haija, who is being supported by the Coalition.
Dr. Barghouthi introduced the list to participants, highlighting that its diverse make-up represents a wide cross section of Palestinian society, including independents, business leaders, academics, writers, people with disabilities, youth, and representatives of women’s groups, labour movements, and the Palestinian National Initiative.
Structurally, the Coalition is distinguished from all other lists by its Advisory Council, led by Dr. Haider Abdel Shafi, which is composed of 120 leaders from all sectors of Palestinian society and which provides candidates with comprehensive policy and programme support.
On internal matters, Dr. Barghouthi reaffirmed the Coalition’s commitment to social justice, adding that the failure of the existing system to provide for the real needs of ordinary Palestinians lay at the heart of current, frequent incidences of internal disorder.
Dr. Barghouthi referred to imbalances in current PA spending, whereby a massive 32 percent of the budget is allocated to ‘public security and order’, while just 3 percent is directed towards economic development, 0.4 percent of which goes towards industrial development and investment respectively, and 0.8 percent to agriculture. He also lamented recent cuts in the health sector, which saw spending fall from 9.5 percent of the budget, to 5.5 percent.
Meanwhile, Dr. Jarrar drew a clear line between Independent Palestine and the ‘old order’, emphasising that the Coalition was ‘homegrown’, and composed of those who had remained in Palestine throughout both the first and second Intifadas, fighting the occupation from within, and helping to build a democratic, pluralistic and prosperous Palestinian state.
He stressed that the Coalition finds its basis in civil society, that it has no affiliation to any armed forces or groups, and that, for these reasons, Independent Palestine represents a fresh start for the Palestinian people.