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Source: http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2008/oct/31/israelandthepalestinians-middleeast
Boycotting Jerusalem's Elections Is Futile for the City's Palestinians
[Guardian-UK] Akram Salhab - The upcoming Jerusalem elections and the widespread expectation of a continued Palestinian boycott is yet another indication of the lazy thinking that continues to dominate the Palestinian political scene. It is time to consider whether the boycott is hurting more than it is helping. Israel has afforded Palestinians a degree of political representation and there is no reason why these democratic structures should not be pushed to their limits. With Palestinians constituting over 30% of the city's population, the Palestinian vote would hold significant sway in how the city is run. The boycott of the elections is indicative of a widespread problem with Palestinian politics, namely, the continued obsession with symbolism. Real political gains are sacrificed in order to maintain a symbolic stance which is only of significance to Palestinians themselves.