Subscribe to Print Edition | Sun., November 11, 2007 Kislev 1, 5768 | | Israel Time: 05:27 (EST+7) web haaretz.com   Back to Homepage Print Edition Diplomacy Defense Arts & Leisure Real Estate Jewish World National Advertising Magazine Week's End Business Opinion Rosner's Domain Anglo File Books Travel

Hamas lawmakers attend Palestinian Legislative Council meeting in Gaza. (AP) del.icio.us Digg It!  new Last update - 20:56 07/11/2007 Hamas convenes parliament for first time since seizing Gaza By The Associated Press tags: Palestinian Authority  Lawmakers from Hamas convened a session of the Palestinian parliament Wednesday for the first time since the group violently seized Gaza from the rival Fatah movement last June. With around 40 Hamas parliamentarians in Israeli jails and Fatah members staying away, only 28 of the legislature's 132 members took their seats in Gaza City's seafront parliament building. Another seven took part by conference call from the West Bank abroad and lawmakers present - all from, or backed by, Hamas - said 35 of their jailed colleagues had appointed proxies, bringing the total number to 70, just over the 67 required for a quorum. Fatah said the tactic was not legal. Advertisement Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh, the depose prime minister, opened the session, saying it was part of his group's efforts to restore democratic life among Palestinians. "The Israeli occupation in collaboration with Palestinian parties wants to curtail Palestinian life and paralyze democratic institutions," Haniyeh told the session. The Islamic group swept the 2006 parliamentary elections, winning 74 seats, but was shunned by Israel and the international community for its refusal to recognize Israel or renounce violence. After Hamas overran Gaza in June, Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas of Fatah fired Hamas from government and formed his own Cabinet in the West Bank, and parliamentary activity ground to a standstill. Haniyeh said his group sought to mend relations between the two rivals by convening Wednesday's session, but Fatah said it was not invited. "This is not a sign of good intentions," Fatah lawmaker Abdullah Abdullah told The Associated Press by telephone from Ramallah. "This is a consolidation of the separation between Gaza and the West Bank." Related articles Fatah to boycott parliament session convened by Hamas Bookmark to del.icio.us Remembering Yasser PA Chair Mahmoud Abbas unveils a $1.75 million mausoleum for Yasser Arafat. Spiritual spat U.S. synagogue ties with 'women priests' draws ire of Catholic church.   1.   Gaza is so green...............and clean too..........of humanism 20:49  |  Genuine Tosefta 07/11/07   2.   War and Peace (and War) with Palestine 22:04  |  JD 07/11/07   3.   hamas de-mock-crazy at work! 22:09  |  bernard 07/11/07   4.   What`s the point? 22:26  |  Joe Sittizen 07/11/07   5.   This struggle will not end soon 22:34  |  Natallie Durson 07/11/07   6.   Do as Caligula, name your camels parlamentarians. 22:44  |  Fortuna Benmayor 07/11/07   7.   Tevira..your`e quoting from anti-Hamas sites 23:10  |  KMS 07/11/07   8.   KMS ( khalid mohammed) 04:37  |  Lynn 08/11/07   9.   I thought pictures are forbidden in islam? 03:06  |  cristo 11/11/07

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