REFİF İSLİM

Gaza- the West Bank and the Gaza Strip suffer from a political crisis. The number of women running for elections, and participating in decision-making positions and political parties is very low. In a word, men control the decision-making mechanisms in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip. Women, who are the cornerstone of the development of societies, can only take part in the implementation phases.

“There is no democratic process”

Academic and political researcher Rania al-Louh said that every citizen has the right to vote and be elected and that women have complete freedom to determine who will govern them, particularly municipalities, which provide basic services such as water, streets, transportation that residents need. Pointing out that democratic municipal elections and local elections are held in the West Bank, she emphasized that all forms of democratic processes, including municipal elections and even the elections for student councils, have been suspended in the Gaza Strip for more than 15 years.

“Palestinian women make up half of Palestinian society”

Speaking about the reason for the suspension of the wheel of democracy, she stated that the most important reason is the lack of recognition of political pluralism and citizens' rights and this causes the situation in Palestine to get worse and to suffer from an economic crisis.

Pointing out that women’s participation in politics has recently increased in the West Bank, Rania al-Louh said, “The women in the West Bank have always been demanding a 30% gender quota so that they will get 27% success in the municipal council elections. But there is no presence of women in the Gaza Strip. Women, who make up half of Palestinian society, don’t have enough seats. Without women, the political situation in Palestine will not improve. More women should participate in the decision-making positions and political parties to improve the situation in Palestine.”

The rate of women in political parties

Speaking about the participation of Palestinian women in political parties, Rania al-Louh said, “The rate of Palestinian women’s participation in political parties is not at the expected level. For instance, there was only one female member, Hanan Ashrawi, of the Executive Committee of the Palestine Liberation Organization. After she resigned from her position, no one was elected for her position for her position to be occupied by a man. Women only have four ministries out of 34 ministries. This situation doesn’t reflect the democratic state advocated by the Palestinian government.”