13:55 18/02/2006
Hamas lawmakers sworn into Palestinian parliament
By Arnon Regular, Haaretz Correspondent, and News Agencies
The Palestinian Legislative Council, for the first time comprised of a majority membership led by Hamas, was sworn in Saturday morning in Ramallah.
Hamas lawmakers based in Gaza, who were unable to attend the official ceremony due to travel restrictions imposed by Israel, took part in the swearing in via videoconferencing, Israel Radio reported.
Speaking before Saturday's historic opening session, Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas on Saturday asked the Islamic militant group Hamas to form the next government as quickly as possible, and offered his help and cooperation.
Abbas declared that the Palestinian Authority, whose chairmanship falls under his jurisdiction, as well as the government, which will be led by Hamas, will continue to opt for negotiations with Israel as a strategic choice.
The PA chairman said that the government and the PA are bound by signed agreements and are obligated to negotiations, the aims of which are "to strengthen and develop the popular struggle in the ways of peace" in order to achieve the goals of the Palestinian people.
"We have not and will not accept any questioning of the accords' legitimacy," Abbas told parliament. "Indeed, from the hour they were endorsed, they became a political reality to which we remain committed."
Hamas rejected Abbas' call on Saturday for the new Palestinian government that it will form to respect a commitment to peacemaking with Israel and pursue only peaceful struggle.
"Hamas rejects negotiations with the occupation under the current circumstances, while occupation and aggression continues," said Hamas spokesman Sami Abu Zuhri.
"We re-emphasise the commitment to (armed) resistance as a natural right of our people."
Abbas urged the U.S. government and the remaining members of the Quartet to refrain from punishing the Palestinian public for electing Hamas in last month's parliamentary elections. The chairman also called for a renewal of negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians.
"Let us together make peace today, rather than tomorrow," Abbas told the parliament. "Let us live in two neighboring states."
He said the Hamas victory in last month's parliament election - and the defeat of his Fatah Party - have led to a new political reality.
"Therefore, it (Hamas) will be asked to form the new government," Abbas said. "On my part, you will find all the cooperation and encouragement you need, because our national interest is our first and final goal, and is above any individual faction."
Abbas asked Hamas to name its candidate for prime minister and to form a government as soon as possible.
Hamas officials have said their top choice for prime minister is the group's Gaza leader, Ismail Haniyeh.
Palestinian sources told Israel Radio that access to Ramallah had been cut off and that security inspections at checkpoints and passageways were intensified.
Israel Radio quoted sources as reporting that most Hamas parliament members from the West Bank arrived in Ramallah three days ago.
The PLC holds 132 seats, 74 of which will be occupied by Hamas. Abbas' Fatah faction won a total of 45 seats in last month's parliamentary elections.
In Ramallah, Hamas lawmakers entered the main hall in Abbas' headquarters in a group, one carrying a picture of jailed lawmaker Hassan Yousef. The group's female lawmakers covered their heads in traditional Muslim fashion.
A member of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine placed a picture of jailed lawmaker, Ahmed Saadat on a chair in the hall. A group of foreign diplomats, including the U.S. consul in Jerusalem, also attended the Ramallah session.
In Gaza, some 2,000 diplomats and other VIPs gathered in the government complex to view the parliament session, along with about 100 women from the Hamas Women's Union, their faces covered with veils.
Mahmoud Zahar, a fiery Hamas leader newly elected to serve in parliament, called Saturday a "historic day," and pledged that Hamas would serve the Palestinian people.
"We have to be the new servants for the Palestinian issue, the Palestinian detainees, the Palestinian land, the Holy Land and also for the people," Zahar told reporters when he arrived at the Gaza government building where the parliament session was to be held via videoconference.
In his speech to parliament, Abbas is to lay out the cabinet's basic policies as well as ask Hamas to recognize agreements with Israel and abandon violence. He is not expected to ask Hamas to recognize Israel.
Following the swearing-in of the new parliament, Abbas is expected to summon representatives of the various parliamentary factions to his office for consultations and to appoint Ismail Haniyeh prime minister. However, since Haniyeh is in Gaza and cannot reach Ramallah, the official appointment will probably be delayed until next week.
On Thursday, Hamas nominated Haniyeh, a senior leader of the organization's Gaza Strip branch, to form the next Palestinian cabinet.
Haniyeh is expected to be officially asked to form the government by Abbas following the first session of the new parliament Saturday, via videoconferencing, in Ramallah and Gaza.
An aide to Abbas told Israel Radio on Saturday that the chairman will present a letter to the incoming prime minister detailing the government's policies, namely adherence to the road map, a recognition of Israel's right to exist, and embarking on a non-violent struggle against the Israeli occupation.
Warning of possible turmoil ahead, top Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat said that if Hamas's government rejected Abbas's peace policies, "it will be a violation of the constitution, and will lead to a major crisis."
Haniyeh will have three weeks in which to form the government, and may receive an extension of two weeks, according to Palestinian law.
Haniyeh's associates said he hoped to accomplish the task within two weeks. Sources close to Hamas said the movement will seek to involve other groups, including Fatah, in the government, and will appoint two women and a Christian as ministers.
With Haniyeh's appointment, the PA cabinet's activities are expected to move from Ramallah to the Gaza Strip, while the parliament will operate primarily from Ramallah under the leadership of Hamas' Abdel-Aziz Dweik. With these two appointments, Hamas appears to have decided to appoint its own members to leadership positions following its January election victory.
Meanwhile, Jibril Rajoub, Abbas' security adviser, said Thursday in an interview with Israel Radio that some of the PA security forces will be transfered to Hamas, since by PA law they are controlled by the cabinet and interior minister.
However, appointments and promotions are vetted by Abbas' bureau. When the law was passed, the assumption was that Fatah would control both the chairman's office and the cabinet, but this is no longer the case.
Fatah and Hamas have been holding talks in which the latter said it would not enter into a conflict with Abbas over control of the most powerful security force, preventive security, but would demand control over the police to allow it to influence public order.
Armed Palestinians in Gaza demand overdue salaries
About 200 armed Palestinian policemen, some firing in the air, marched on Saturday toward Gaza's government complex, demanding their overdue salaries just hours before a new Hamas-led parliament was to be sworn in.
The policemen, who were hired just two months ago, said they have yet to be paid for their services. They headed toward the building where Gaza's parliament meeting was to be held. The Gaza lawmakers - barred by Israel from reaching the West Bank city of Ramallah - will participate in the parliament session by videoconference.