The Democratic Front condemns the arrest of the Palestinian Deputy Prime Minister and calls for the formation of a government of national unity

The official spokesperson of the Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine condemned the kidnapping and arrest of Dr. Nasser Al-Din Al-Shaer, the Palestinian Deputy Prime Minister. He called the Zionist action an act of piracy on the level of other similar actions, such as the arrest of the President of the Legislative Council, ministers and democratically elected deputies and political leaders, as well as the 10,000 Palestinian prisoners that are still in jail.

The spokesperson affirmed that the arrests and persecutions carried out against government ministers and representatives of our people have the objective of overthrowing the Palestinian political system and paralyzing its executive and legislative institutions, placing more obstacles in the way of Palestinian political forces that are trying to overcome the internal crisis and put into effect the results of dialogue and the Document of National Reconciliation.

The spokesperson pointed out that the government of Olmert, following its political and military defeat in the war against Lebanon, is trying to improve its deteriorated image by disarming the Palestinian people, intensifying its attacks against civilians and striking out at political, social and service institutions.

The spokesperson called on all Palestinian political forces to confront this Zionist policy by putting into effect the results of the national dialogue and accelerating the formation of a government of national unity in which all political forces participate. He affirmed that the arrest of various ministers and deputies must not constitute an obstacle for the formation of this government and that the national Palestinian decision cannot be held hostage to the decision of a government of occupation. He noted that not only are there Hamas leaders and deputies in Israeli jails but members of all Palestinian political forces and that any government of national unity must include a number of them to fortify and guarantee the security of any government of unity.

Central Office of Information of the Democratic Front for the
Liberation of Palestine
August 19, 2006