All of our candidates - not just those according to [A.S.] party lines - submitted their qualifications during last year's elections. Students entrusted us to make these decisions. It's critical because it's a matter of students paying more [for higher education] in the future.

In essence these are multi-party elections in a one-party state. We urge all the election observers to take that into account and to address allegations of abuse.

We need to restore the people's confidence in the party to win the year-end elections. We need to be prepared to govern again,

These reforms propose to create competitive elections. Under the current system, the party in power draws its district to create lopsided and safe seats for candidates. Our reforms take the politics out of it and create competition in the elections process. We believe if politicians have to work to earn their seats, they'll be more responsive to their constituents.

These elections ... will put an end to the era of dictatorship by one party or faction in decision-making in Palestinians political life. They will set the cornerstone for new nationalist institutions based on merit and probity ... and will establish a nation of law.

Did you, too, O friend, suppose democracy was only for elections, for politics, and for a party name? I say democracy is only of use there that it may pass on and come to its flower and fruit in manners, in the highest forms of interaction between [people], and their beliefs -- in religion, literature, colleges and schools -- democracy in all public and private life....