The Palestinian Woman Enters the Elections!

In the name of God, and with reliance on God, the Palestinian woman has decided to enter the municipal and local council elections with full vigor, activity, confidence, and capability; to stand side by side with men in serving the homeland and making decisions, supporting him and being supported by him, consulting him and being consulted by him, sharing opinions with him and having him share opinions with her, drawing strength from him and him drawing strength from her. It is true that Palestinian women had previously participated in elections in 1996, but this time we see them undertaking the experience with greater confidence, larger numbers, higher spirits, stronger determination, more mature experience, and more penetrating insight and vision for matters. With this electoral decision, she is trying to change the wrong societal concepts that have dominated it for long centuries, related to male dominance over administrative decisions, even in matters concerning women. Her candidacy in these elections is nothing but an attempt to restore society to its natural state, as God created it, a state in which male and female complement each other and are not superior to one another, cooperate and do not discriminate, complete each other and do not separate, to form a natural, integrated, and sound society as God intended since the beginning of creation, and as stated in the Book of God: "And that He created the two sexes, the male and the female." The Palestinian woman, with this electoral decision, is seen shattering the outdated myth that has lingered in the minds of the ignorant and backward, that women were created only for the home and children; to tell them with full confidence and reassurance that a woman is a mind before she is a body and a soul, and that she is a human being before she is a nurturer of children and generations. Like men, God has endowed her with intelligence, preparedness, capabilities, and competencies that qualify her to be alongside men in decision-making positions, to study and analyze, to decide and consult, and to defend the issues of her country and homeland as he defends, armed with her knowledge, certificates, struggle, and faith in herself and her cause. Today, by participating in municipal and local council elections, the Palestinian woman is telling Arab society in particular, and the world in general, that what governs the development and survival of society is knowledge and competencies, intellectual power and intelligence, not gender and physical strength; and that what works for the equality of male and female in rights and duties is the democratic system and respect for human beings, not the dictatorial system and dominance. After women throughout history have succeeded in being lawyers, doctors, researchers, scientists, poets, writers, physicists, chemists, and in other fields of science, especially in Palestine, she will undoubtedly succeed in being a mayor, a municipal council member, and a political decision-maker, as experience has shown that women everywhere are capable of sensing the issues of their society, capable of studying and analyzing them, and capable of articulating and defending them like their male counterparts; and for this reason, we have seen her reach the highest positions and ranks, from minister and director to researcher, scientist, doctor, lawyer, and professor, and so on. She is, without the slightest doubt, capable of being an active and influential member in any position she holds, adding to men and not detracting from them, supporting them and not diminishing their status, complementing them and not weakening them, and defending her country, society, cause, and homeland, and not standing by as a mere spectator or only suffering when she loses a brother, son, husband, father, relative, or friend. As sociologists say, two opinions are better than one, and this is what happens when the Palestinian woman takes her place in administrative centers alongside her brother, the man. The look of hope and optimism we saw in the pictures of the female candidates on the election list tells us that the Palestinian woman is determined to work, determined to succeed, and determined to occupy her leading role in society to no less extent than the man's determination; and that is with what she possesses of knowledge and competence, intelligence and shrewdness, experience and high confidence in God and in herself. So congratulations to the Palestinian woman for entering the elections, and congratulations to some for winning mayoralties, and congratulations to you for your self-confidence, and congratulations to you for your faith in your abilities, and congratulations to you for your insistence on proving yourself and serving your community, and blessed be your endeavor to reach the administrative pyramid and decision-making, supporting men in every position and place, and congratulations to Palestinian society for having you as a mother, sister, wife, struggler, mayor, and leader... and so on, from positions that were once exclusive to men, so that you may be a role model for all Arab and foreign girls. So go forth, and may God's eye watch over you, and forward, with our best wishes for you and all winners for all success and progress, and more prosperity in serving your country, people, society, and cause on the path to victory, liberation, and independence.