Ramallah (Ma'an) - Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas called for commitment to existing agreements with Israel during his remarks at the opening session of the new Palestinian Legislative Council.
During Saturday's swearing in, with Hamas now at the helm of the Council, official appointments were announced.
Although the President expressed commitment to existing agreements, he refused to accept Israeli threats of punishment against the Palestinian people for exercising their democratic choice.
President Abbas said in front of the elected new PLC members and deputies, ‘The internal changes that occurred due to the results of the second Legislative Council elections, which gave Hamas the majority in the PLC, should not be used as any sort of justification to impose more aggression against our nation, nor should it be used as blackmail.’
The President added, ‘The Palestinian people are not to be punished for their electoral choice. This nation demands to not be blackmailed, and I personally refuse to be baited into accepting it. I call for a full retreat from this external interference. We do not want more than international law to be applied and the international guarantees to be implemented as we are a singular unit.’
Israel has threatened collective punishment not only against Hamas if or when they won, but also against the Palestinian electorate.
However, the President did not shy away from defining a broad outline, or a sort of 'code of conduct' to the new government as his requests of Hamas.
As he sees it, the basic plan of the new PLC is to stick at the agreements with Israel, to continue negotiations with Israel, to fight the chaos and continue implementing reform.
President Abbas said, ‘As we held the PLC elections in an honest way, we are expecting to see a government facing the inevitable problems, and do its job in an honest and wise manner.’
He added, ‘On this occasion of speaking with the new government members, I confirm the respect of existing agreements with Israel.’
The President called on Hamas and other parties to abandon violence and respect the laws of the PA adding, ‘Since everyone is participating in the new PA in all of its organizations and departments for the popular benefit, we must end the chaos and corruption. Everyone should recognize of the existence of one weapon and that is the weapon of the Islamic Law, Sharia.’
In his speech to the PLC, President Abbas said, ‘We will continue our commitment to a presidency and a government that works by negotiations as a realistic, political, and strategic choice.’
Still pushing negotiations with Israel, Abbas said, ‘Through the negotiations we reap the fruits of our struggle and the sacrifices of our continuous nation and its persistent struggle throughout lengthy decades.’
He added, ‘We will find through serious negotiations a practical opportunity for the achievement of our legitimate national aims. We will find international support for international law, with absolute clarity regarding our issue and our rights.’
At the same time, President Abbas called to develop what he referred to as, ‘Peaceful resistance to the occupation.’
‘At the same time,’ the President said, ‘we approve the idea of negotiations as a political choice and methodology. We must continue to reinforce our popular resistance through nonviolent means.’
A large portion of Abbas' 10-page letter delivered in front of many in the Islamic Movement, was devoted to the idea that ‘Hamas represents the majority.’
He also gave equal time to the historical role played by the Palestine Liberation Organization and its leadership and representation of the Palestinian people.’
The President said that he enjoyed speaking with the new council, with nation and with the international community, ‘with responsibility, clarity and frankness.’
He continued, ‘We have faced countless difficult experiences in our nation, and numerous complications, but we have faced great achievements as well. One is that the PLO is the leader of this nation. It is holds the highest political position within the framework of Palestine and its people.’
President Abbas said, ‘We would not have achieved these great aims in Palestinian life without Palestinian unity and without fighting against the Israeli aggression.’
In a clear sign for Hamas, as its platform is different from the Popular Palestinian Platform, Abbas said, ‘The PLO or the Palestinian Revolution would not have lasted if it had not used a major technical and defense system, which gained it world-wide recognition as the leader of the Palestinians.’
Hamas leader Ismail Hania commented on President Abbas' speech by saying that it was ‘replete with positive points, but we disagree with him on several political points.’