Student Debate on Elections

In cooperation with the Deanship of Student Affairs and the Central Elections
Commission, the Student Debate Forum at the Philosophy and
Cultural Studies Department held its tenth debate on 12
July 2012. The debate took as its topic "The elections in the current circumstances is necessary for the Palestinian national
interest."

The debate took place between
two teams: the first supported the issue of holding the
elections, headed by Department of Philosophy faculty member, Dr. Samih Shbieb, while the opposing team was
headed by Dr. Abdul Sattar Qassem, Professor of Political Science
at An-Najah University.

The team in favor of the argument explained that there exists
a national and existential necessity
to hold elections, stemming from the belief in Palestinians’ right to
self-determination and to choice
of leadership.

On
the other hand, while Dr. Qassem viewed the elections as necessary in
principle, he considered elections in the prevailing circumstances to be
inappropriate for several reasons. He argued this is mainly due
to the absence of freedoms and right to choose in the West Bank and Gaza Strip.
He added: "We can’t hold the elections without the formation of an
independent national body to supervise the electoral process and to
re-structure the Palestine Liberation Organization."

The results of public and arbitration committee votes
were 66% in favor of the opposing
team and 34% in favor of the pro-argument team.

This debate is part of a series of debates
held by the Student Debate Forum,
which was founded by BZU students
in order to promote constructive
dialogue, based on argument
and logic. The debate
is also part of the Palestinian Youth Voices Project,
implemented by the Student Affairs Deanship and the Palestinian Central Elections
Commission.