Low-key oath for Hamas MPs

[WhiteTara]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/4727200.stm

From 0900 <0700 GMT> onwards the new members of the Palestinian legislature began arriving at the Presidential compound in Ramallah for the swearing-in of the new parliament.

Many had left their homes across the West Bank on Thursday night, fearful that Israeli roadblocks would prevent them from attending the ceremony.

But for the new Hamas members of parliament the journey had been the longest.

The party's stunning election victory last month was the first Palestinian legislative election they had contested.

At 0930 the Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas swept into the compound in a six-vehicle convoy, with heavily armed bodyguards hanging from open car doors.

more

[Judi Lynn]

1. Hamas-Dominated Parliament Sworn In

Hamas-Dominated Parliament Sworn In
By STEVEN GUTKIN, Associated Press Writer

Saturday, February 18, 2006

(02-18) 18:16 PST RAMALLAH, West Bank (AP) --

A new parliament dominated by Hamas was sworn in Saturday, with Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas asking the Islamic militant group to form the next government but imploring them to honor existing peace deals and take the path of negotiations.

Hamas leaders rejected Abbas' calls, but signaled a willingness to compromise.

In the battle for Palestinians' political future, time is short and stakes are high: Israel is on the verge of imposing sanctions that would seal off the Gaza Strip.

Hooked up via video conferencing because Israel wouldn't let them travel between the West Bank and Gaza, the new Palestinian lawmakers in the two territories took their oath of office collectively, reciting a prayer with upturned palms.
(snip/...)

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2006/02/18/international/i181641S44.DTL

[Name removed]

2. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Jim Sagle]

4. And I think you should go back to Stormfront.

[AngryAmish]

5. This is the worst thing I have seen here.

But, of course, the Hungarians should go back to central asia.

[president4aday]

3. We don't insist that Israel "disarm, renounce violence and

...recognize" Palestine's "right to exist".

So we aren't going to that either.

We need permission for that.

[The Magistrate]

6. As A Matter Of Curiosity, Sir

Whose permission is needed to do that?