Palestinian Parliament Convenes for Vote

29/04/2003| IslamWeb

The Palestinian legislature convenes Tuesday for a vote of confidence in the Cabinet of prime minister-designate Mahmoud Abbas, a key to resuming Mideast peace efforts. U.S. President George W. Bush has said the so-called "road map" peace plan, which envisions an immediate end to 31 months of violence and eventual Palestinian statehood, will be formally unveiled once the new government is confirmed.

Abbas needs the support of 43 legislators in the 85-member parliament in Tuesday's vote. The legislature, elected in 1996, initially had 88 members, but two have died and one has resigned. Another, Marwan Barghouti, is in an Israeli prison while he stands trial on charges of involvement in a string of fatal attacks on Israelis.

Bush refuses to deal with Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat, whom he considers tainted by terrorism, and he has been pushing for an alternate Palestinian leadership.

Critics of the proposed Abbas government say he missed an opportunity for a sweeping overhaul, and several of his appointees, are tainted by corruption.

The Fatah Central Committee, the movement's ruling body, met Monday, and decided to instruct its legislators to vote in favor of Abbas' Cabinet.

"President Arafat and the Central Committee of Fatah will provide the new Cabinet with all the Fatah support and personal support to win the vote of confidence," said Nabil Shaath, the incoming minister of foreign affairs.

With parliamentary approval for the Cabinet, the way is clear for the road map to be put into play. The three-stage plan, drafted by the United States, the United Nations, Russia and the European Union - envisions full Palestinian statehood within three years, and a provisional state in temporary borders as early as this year.

The United States would be the referee on the two most important issues - security and a future Israeli settlement freeze.

Humanitarian assistance to the Palestinians and government reform would be overseen by the Europeans.

Israeli and Palestinian officials said Monday they were pleased to have the United States be the chief security monitor.

Israel had insisted that the other three members of the so-called quartet of negotiators have no say on the issue. The Palestinians said they wanted to be certain Israel is not allowed to judge their performance.

However, Israeli Voice Premier Ehud Olmert said Israel would walk away from the peace plan if Palestinian shooting and bombing attacks continue.

PHOTO CAPTION

Palestinian Prime Minister-designate Mahmoud Abbas, center, walks with the Parliament Speaker Ahmed Qureia, right, as he shakes hand with Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat's adviser Nabil Abu Rdeneh, left, at Arafat's headquarters in the West Bank town of Ramallah Monday April 28, 2003. (AP Photo/Muhammed Muheisen)

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