Nickolay Mladenov, former UN Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process, urged Israel to allow Palestinians to hold legislative elections in Jerusalem.
In a series of tweets on Saturday, Mladenov said Israel should not allow itself to be used as an excuse for those who seek to block elections.
There are ways to ensure that all eligible voters can participate in accordance with the law without disrupting peace and security, he tweeted.
“The international community must be clear that it expects elected Palestinian officials and any future government to abide by prior agreements and commitments, including Israel’s recognition and renounce violence.”
“If elections prove to be impossible, it will be critically important for Palestinian leaders, with support from Egypt and Jordan, to quickly move and form a true national unity government that brings Gaza and the West Bank under a single national authority,” Mladenov stressed.
He highlighted the importance of reviving sustainable and just peace through legitimate democratic institutional representation, calling on everyone to do their part “so that if elections take place, they contribute to peace, prosperity and security for Palestinians and Israel.”
“Without an agreed reference framework, past achievements can unravel and the situation on the ground can rapidly deteriorate,” he noted.
“All Palestinian candidates in the election should commit to a negotiated resolution of the conflict, stand against violence and uphold the rule of law.”
“All weapons and security forces must be under the control of an internationally recognized and accountable government,” he added.
He further pointed out that the Palestinian leadership must ensure a level playing field for all candidates in the elections.
Authorities should not use the resources they control against their opponents, and the “judiciary and security services must stay above politics.”
Meanwhile, the Palestinian Authority has been calling for international and European pressure to force Israel to respect agreements and allow Palestinians in Jerusalem to participate in the elections.
The EU said on Tuesday Israel has not responded to requests to grant visas to its delegation who intend to observe the elections, scheduled for May 22.
