Political maneuver against Hamas: Salim Zanoun, chairman of the Palestinian National Council (PNC), confirmed Sunday evening that the Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO) was planning to take over the Hamas-controlled Palestinian Legislative Council (PLC).
The plan was first revealed by Ynet on Saturday.
Zanoun, who spoke to Palestinian trade unions in the West Bank city of Nablus, confirmed that the PNC would decide in its meeting next month to transfer the authorities of the PLC to the PLO's Central Council.
He said that in light of the PLC's inactivity and inability to operate, the PLO's main council would fill in and receive all its authorities. Zanoun mentioned that the PNC was the body which decided to establish the Palestinian Authority in 1994, noting that the PA and its institutions were "the legal child of the PLO and the Central Council."
Ynet reported Saturday that the Pa was putting the finishing touches on carrying out a revolution within the Palestinian government institutions, in order to put an end to the paralyzing division, and be rid of the legislative obstacles placed by Hamas.
PA sources told Ynet that according to the plan in formation, the role of PLC which has served as the parliament since the establishment of the PA and is currently ruled by Hamas, will be usurped by the PLO's Central Council, which will become the supreme Palestinian legislative body. Hamas is not a member of the PLO, and it will have no foothold in the council.
Hamas slammed the plan. Dr. Mahmoud al-Ramahi, the PLC's secretary-general, said that the PLO's institutions had no legitimization to decide to transfer the parliament's authorities to the PLO's Central Committee.
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