Gaza (Ma'an) – Seventeen women Palestinian Legislative Council members from the West Bank and Gaza Strip participated in Saturday's first new PLC session.
The Palestinian electorate cast their ballots for women and men alike. Hamas member Maryam Farahat told Ma'an Sunday, ‘I just cannot describe my feelings. The Hamas win is a gift from God.’
She promised to be a full and equal partner to the men in the PLC in serving the Palestinian people.
‘We in Hamas are optimistic that God has given us this victory and that God will be with Hamas in order to unite the Palestinians.’
Another PLC woman, Jameela Sht'ti described the first PLC session as a ‘national wedding.’
She told Ma'an, ‘This is a great responsibility now on the shoulders of Hamas.’
Sht'ti continued, ‘Despite all obstacles, Hamas carry out its duties and responsibilities as properly as possible.’
A woman from the independent list and a second time PLC winner, Rawyah Al Shawa, said, ‘The feeling is one of pride and honor at being chosen a second time.’
Al Shawa added, ‘Of course I respect the people's choice and have been calling on Palestinian parties for the past 10 years to participate in the PLC, in a real democracy. Society will notice that this PLC will work as one bloc, with males and females as equal partners.’