| Page 3 of 3 < |
Jerusalem's Mayoral Race Reflects the City's Troubled Times
|
TOOLBOX
   Resize
COMMENT
 Discussion Policy
 CLOSE
Comments that include profanity or personal attacks or other inappropriate comments or material will be removed from the site. Additionally, entries that are unsigned or contain "signatures" by someone other than the actual author will be removed. Finally, we will take steps to block users who violate any of our posting standards, terms of use or privacy policies or any other policies governing this site. Please review the full rules governing commentaries and discussions. You are fully responsible for the content that you post.
Who's Blogging  |
Palestinians in East Jerusalem, who make up a third of the city's population of 760,000, have traditionally not voted in municipal elections, saying that to do so would be a recognition of Israeli sovereignty over East Jerusalem.
This year, as in the past, the Palestinian Authority called on East Jerusalemites not to vote. The mufti of Jerusalem, the most senior religious Muslim leader, issued a fatwa, or religious ruling, against standing for office in the election.
Nonetheless, some Palestinians in East Jerusalem said they would still consider voting.
Akram Abu Shalbak, 40, who helps Palestinians prepare legal briefs, said he is voting this year for the first time.
"Gaydamak says he wants to make life better in East Jerusalem and equalize the municipal budgets for East and West Jerusalem," Shalbak said. "His campaign and his program are clear. We must play a role in these elections to improve our situation."
But others, such as Nuha Musleh, a Palestinian journalist and translator, said they would not vote.
"Even though I believe in fighting for the services and our rights in the city, internationally and regionally, I won't vote," she said. "According to U.N. resolutions, Jerusalem is occupied land, and I'm not going to recognize Israeli sovereignty over East Jerusalem."
