Ramallah (Ma'an) – Newly elected Independent Palestinian Legislative Council member, Mustafa Barghouthi, asked that the international community to respect the will of the Palestinian people.
He criticized decisions by the US, the European Union, and Israel to cut aid to Palestine in the wake of Hamas' PLC victory, noting that Palestinians suffer from high unemployment and poverty rates. He warned of the effects of the Israeli enforced closure on Palestinian areas.
Bargouthi demanded that the international community intervene to stop the Israeli campaign of arrests, assassinations, and home raids against Palestinians. He also called for the creation of a new economy based on local production.