Dweik calls for Abbas' resignation

Speaker of the Palestinian Legislative Council Aziz Duwaik called for the resignation of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas on Tuesday, following the failure of Palestinian leadership to demand action on the UN-mandated Goldstone report on Israel’s Operation Cast Lead.

Duwaik was quoted in the English language Israeli news page Ynet, in an un-sourced interview. He was reported to have called for the establishment of national Palestinian commission, separate from the recently organized Abbas-mandated committee, to investigate the issues which saw the deferral of a resolution that could have seen Israeli leaders and Hamas militants tried for war crimes committed during the winter war that killed more than 1,400 Palestinians and 9 Israelis.

The Hamas leader, who was released from Israeli prison only months ago after almost three years in detention without charge, suggested the Arab League to take responsibility for governing during the interim period to following Abbas’ dismissal.

“The Goldstone Report was the straw that broke the camel’s back – It’s time that Abbas clears his seat and leaves the leadership of the Palestinian people for others,” Dweikat was quoted as saying.

Dweik’s position as PLC speaker has been contested by members of the legislature in the West Bank since his release from Israeli prison. A staunch unity supporter, Dweik said he would work for Palestinian unity whether he sat as PLC speaker or not.

Source: Ma’an