PLO to Form Separate W. Bank Parliament

Jerusalem Post ^ | January 14, 2008 | Khaled Abu Toameh

[america4vr]

The Palestinians may soon have two separate parliaments - one in the West Bank controlled by Fatah and the second belonging to Hamas in the Gaza Strip.

The PLO Central Council, which met in Ramallah on Sunday, is expected to vote to dissolve the current Palestinian Legislative Council [PLC], which is dominated by Hamas. The council is also scheduled to call for early parliamentary elections in the Palestinian territories.

However, it's unclear how such elections would take place in the Gaza Strip, which is entirely controlled by Hamas.

Several Fatah officials have also called to dissolve the PLC, which has been paralyzed since Hamas took full control of the Gaza Strip in June.

The move is set to deepen divisions among the Palestinians and further consolidate the split between the West Bank and the Gaza Strip. It is also likely to hamper efforts by some Arab countries to patch up the differences between Fatah and Hamas.

The 116-member PLO Central Council would serve as a temporary parliament to fill the vacuum after the PLC was dissolved, a senior Palestinian Authority official told The Jerusalem Post.

"Of course we will hold new parliamentary elections in the Palestinian territories," he said. "But in the meantime, the council will fulfill the duties of the parliament."

PA President Mahmoud Abbas has told the council members he "fully supports" early parliamentary elections, the official added.

At the previous meeting of the PLO Central Council in July, a majority of members expressed support for dissolving the PLC and holding early elections. But the idea was abandoned following severe criticism from Hamas and other Palestinian groups.

Some PLO officials said they were convinced that early elections would be the best way to resolve the power struggle between Fatah and Hamas.

[america4vr]

This has got to be a first in governmental politics. In normal countries governed by the Parliamentary system, new elections are called, but only the freedom-loving parliamentarians of the nascent/stillborn quasi-state of Palestone, pick themselves up and move their governing body over to another part of town if unable to come to terms with their political adversaries. Surreal.

[SJackson]

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[america4vr]

Guess what? I’ve been on your highly informative list for quite some time. Thanks very much.

[mojito]

This is official recognition of the Hamas coup. Fatah can not win back Gaza. This will, of course, backfire on Fatah. Hamas will declare Gaza a Palestinian state, and will claim, rightly, that it was Hamas that brought statehood to the Palestinians.

Israel ended it’s “occupation” of Gaza, and Hamas triumphed. Now, before they leave office, Bush and Condi want Israel to end it’s “occupation” of the West Bank. If Israel is foolish enough to comply - and I believe Olmert is fool enough - the result will be the same. Hamas knows that in a fight Fatah will crumble, and that only the IDF prevents a Hamas takeover of the West Bank.