RAMALLAH, Thursday, April 18, 2019 (WAFA) - President of Birzeit University, Abdullatif Abuhijleh, applauded the student council election process held yesterday at his university saying the students exhibited responsibility and leadership as well as preserved democratic values.

“Our students have broken the barriers that hurdle the normal democratic process in Palestine,” he said commenting on the results of the elections. “With historic and responsible young leaders, Birzeit University has throughout the years been able to maintain the values of democracy and secured the rights of freedom of expression and free speech, thereby stressing the importance of maintaining unity in the Palestinian strive for justice and equality.”

A total of 9041 out of 11,830 eligible student voters, or 78 percent of the student body, participated in the elections held yesterday on campus. The final results showed the two main blocks, the Fatah-backed Martyr Yasser Arafat bloc, received 4056 votes and the Hamas-backed Al-Wafa‘ Islamic bloc, got 3997 votes, both securing 23 seats each of a total seats of 51.

The Democratic Progressive Student Pole received 5 seats, while the Student Unity Bloc was unable to secure any seats.

“Amidst the hardships that Palestine must endure due to political fragmentation and the Israeli occupation,” Abuhijleh continued, “we are required - as an academic institution and part of the Palestinian socio-economic, political and cultural spheres - to approach our basic freedoms and rights boldly and to uphold our academic freedom.”

Last year, the Islamic bloc won 24 out of 51 seats in Birzeit University’s student council elections and the Yasser Arafat bloc won 23 seats, while the Democratic Progressive Student Pole claimed four seats.

M.K.