They feared being under the sole control of the Palestinian Authority. They feared being placed under the inhuman conditions of constant and continued closure like their bothers and sisters in the West Bank and Gaza. However, by not participating in the Palestinian elections, they weakened the Palestinian position in Jerusalem. For three decades Palestinians have also stayed away from the polls of Israeli municipal election in Jerusalem because they feared that their participation would be interpreted as acquiescence to Israeli sovereignty which they view as illegal, illegitimate and immoral. In not participating in that political process they have essentially once again weakened their position in Jerusalem.
Political participation is a key to any political struggle.
If Palestinians in Jerusalem do not participate in the Palestinian political process and they do not participate in the Israeli political process they are being passive observers while their fate is determined by others. Palestinians in Jerusalem must change their decision not to participate and they must also create additional avenues of political struggle. The political voice of Palestinian Jerusalemites must be heard loud and clear in the chambers of the Palestinian council. The political voices of Palestinian Jerusalemites must be heard in the chambers and committees of the Israeli Jerusalem municipality and their voices must be heard through the creation of truly democratic political bodies established and elected in every neighborhood and village of East Jerusalem. Palestinian Jerusalemites must adopt and engage their elected representatives in the Palestinian council as their representatives even if the majority of them didn't bother to vote.