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GAZA, (PIC)-- A Scottish parliamentary delegation bringing medical aid to the beleaguered Gaza Strip crossed Thursday the Rafah boarder crossing into the Strip and visited the Palestinian Legislative Council (PLC) where they held a press conference. The delegation consisted of Scottish parliament member Pauline McNeill accompanied by Salim Muhammad, Shamim Ahmad and Sadaka Khan of the Higher Islamic Coalition in Scotland. The delegation was received by PLC members Yahya Mousa and Mushir al-Masri as well as Foreign Ministry undersecretary Dr. Ahmad Yousuf. Masri, on behalf of Dr. Aziz Dweik, the PLC speaker who is in detention in an Israeli occupation jail, welcomed the delegation whose visit is a step towards breaking the siege on the Gaza Strip and an important step by the Scottish Parliament to urge other Parliaments to put pressure on Israeli occupation to release Palestinian elected parliamentarians. Masri showed the delegation the devastation caused to the PLC building by the Israeli occupation and put them in the picture on the destruction of homes, medical facilities and mosques caused by the Israeli occupation forces during the war on Gaza. McNeil, for her part, said that their visit aimed to express solidarity with the Palestinian people and that they brought with them nine truckloads of medical aid and donations from the Scottish people and government to the Palestinian people in the Gaza Strip. The delegation will stay for three days during which they will make field trip to areas destroyed by the Israeli occupation during the latest war on Gaza and will meet relatives of Palestinian prisoners in Israeli occupation jails. McNeil had visited the Strip back in November aboard one of the Free Gaza vessels. |
Showing posts with label PLC. Show all posts
Showing posts with label PLC. Show all posts
Hamas lawmakers convene Palestinian Legislative Council in Gaza
Hamas lawmakers convened the
Palestinian Legislative Council (PLC)
on Tuesday for the first time this year
in the Gaza Strip .
The legislators unanimously
reaffirmed support for a law,
passed by the Hamas-controlled chamber last year, that
prohibits the surrender of Jerusalem as
the capital of Palestine.
According to article 70 of the Palestinian basic law, the new
law should be submitted to the Palestinian president for
ratification, and if he does not respond within 30 days,
the law goes into effect and will be published in
the official newspaper.
Acting PLC Speaker Ahmad Bahar opened the session with
a speech in which he extended his greetings Palestinian
detainees in Israeli jails, especially PLC speaker Dr Aziz Dweik
and other PLC members. He also saluted the Palestinian
people for what he sees as steadfastness in the face
of the Israeli aggression.
He also condemned the Israeli excavations around
the Al-Aqsa Mosque complex in Jerusalem and settlement
activities in the capital which he said are intended to displace
the city's indigenous Palestinian residents.
Bahar also called on Palestinian president to stop holding
"pointless" meetings with the Israelis because, in his view,
they provide political cover for Israeli atrocities
against the Palestinian people.
Bahar criticized the West Bank-based caretaker
government, headed by Prime Minister Salam Fayyad,
calling the government "illegal." He said: "The PLC speaker
herby affirms that any act or law made by Salam Fayyad's
government will be completely illegal according to the
Palestinian constitution because it is made by an illegal
government. That government came to power by force and
was not sworn-in by the PLC. That was unprecedented
violation of the Palestinian law and a great criminal act
against democracy and the rule of law."
Bahar also condemned attacks against Christians in
Palestine and their properties such as the assault
against the YMCA in Gaza on Sunday and the killing of
Christian librarian Rami Ayyad.
Hamas' "Change and Reform" bloc won a majority in the
PLC in January 2006. After taking control of the Gaza Strip
in June 2007, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas fired the
Hamas-led unity government and appointed a caretaker
government that holds power in the West Bank.
Acting PLC speaker terms Abbas' decree for new PLC session illegal
Acting Speaker of the Palestinian Legislative Council (PLC) Ahmed Bahar said on Tuesday that President Mahmoud Abbas' decree for convening the PLC in its second round session is illegal.
Last week, Abbas issued a presidential decree calling on the PLC to convene in the West Bank and Gaza on Wednesday July 11 in its second session to elect new speaker and deputies.
Abbas' call came after 43 Fatah movement legislatures in the PLC announced that they boycotted the sessions of the 132-memberparliament until Hamas regret what it did in Gaza in protest against Hamas' seizure of the Gaza Strip in mid June.
In a news conference held in Gaza City, Bahar accused President Abbas for challenging the constitution when the latter issued his presidential decree calling for holding a new PLC session.
"Abbas decision to hold a new round for the parliament under such circumstances is illegal. Hamas council members will boycott the session called by Abbas," said Bahar.
Last week, Abbas issued a presidential decree calling on the PLC to convene in the West Bank and Gaza on Wednesday July 11 in its second session to elect new speaker and deputies.
Abbas' call came after 43 Fatah movement legislatures in the PLC announced that they boycotted the sessions of the 132-memberparliament until Hamas regret what it did in Gaza in protest against Hamas' seizure of the Gaza Strip in mid June.
In a news conference held in Gaza City, Bahar accused President Abbas for challenging the constitution when the latter issued his presidential decree calling for holding a new PLC session.
"Abbas decision to hold a new round for the parliament under such circumstances is illegal. Hamas council members will boycott the session called by Abbas," said Bahar.