Palestinian parliament reverses new powers decisions
Palestine, Politics, 3/7/2006

The newly elected Palestinian legislative council (parliament) led by Hamas decided to cancel all decisions issued by the previous parliament in its most recent session, including decisions that had gave more security and judicial powers to the president of the Palestinian authority Mahmoud Abbas.

This came despite the withdrawal of parliamentarians from the Palestine national liberation front (Fatah) hours after the convening of the second session of the new Palestinian parliament in protest of the persistence of the Islamic resistance movement (Hamas) to discuss the amendments.

A NYTimes.com report noted that Hamas considered the action of the previous parliament when it granted major powers to the president following the parliament losing the elections but while still in office, as lacking legitimacy. The voted-out parliament granted the Palestinian president the power to appoint supreme court judges without parliament's approval, which is seen in effect as granting the president the veto power over the parliament, by having the supreme court declaring any laws that would be passed by new Hamas-dominated parliament as illegal.

Some 69 parliamentarians out of 120 voted for canceling the previous decisions. A matter which pushed the representatives of Fatah to withdraw as a protest.

Such a dispute is expected to minimize the opportunity for Fatah to join in the next Palestinian government to be formed under the leadership of Hamas.

Previous Stories:
  Israeli forces kill 4 Palestinians, demolish houses   (3/6/2006)
  Jewish attack targeting Beshara church in al-Nasera   (3/4/2006)
  Hamas: Israel will not manipulate us like it did Fatah   (3/3/2006)

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