Analyst: Palestinian parliament meeting a blow for Abbas

A meeting held by the Palestinian parliament is considered a new “political alliance between Fatah and Hamas”, Quds Press reported Palestinian political analyst and author Hamada Faraneh said yesterday.

“The meeting of the parliament and the decision taken during the meeting which protects Fatah members from President Mahmoud Abbas’ decision to strip them of their immunity is a political strike for Abbas,” Faraneh said.

Faraneh said that Abbas used the division between Hamas and Fatah to undermine parliament because Hamas does not hold a majority. However, yesterday’s parliamentary session also included 15 Fatah members which provided the quorum needed and united the two factions.

The analyst expected that there would be follow-up actions after this meeting, which put an end to Abbas’ individual actions.

“Meetings which achieve the quorum return life to parliament and this made a qualitative push for the Palestinian political system based on two pillars: elected president and elected parliament.”

“The parliament is able to protect its members because they are elected like Abbas who is an elected president.”