The Palestinian Legislative Council (PLC) has accused the Palestinian government, headed by Ahmad Qurei’, of failing to carry out its duties, in light of the recent spate of violent demonstrations against the leadership that began last weekend.
On Wednesday, members of the PLC urged Palestinian Authority Chairman Yassir Arafat to accept Qurei’s resignation, which was handed in at the beginning of the week.
PLC members also urged Arafat to “create a new Palestinian government which will be capable of taking responsibilities,” according to the Palestinian daily Al-Quds.
The council decided that a new government should be committed to organizing general elections, securing the leadership and fighting corruption, Al-Quds reported.
They also demanded that Arafat should give immediate orders to stop the violence in Gaza.
Arafat rejected Qurei’s resignation on the grounds that it was a sensitive time, according to Arafat’s adviser Nabil Abu Rudeina. The resignation cannot be valid unless it is approved by Arafat, lawmakers say.
Demonstrations and acts of violence erupted last weekend in the Gaza Strip, protesting against corruption and lack of implementing reforms in the Palestinian Authority.
Head of the Hamas terror organization’s political wing, Khalid Mash’al, phoned Arafat and former Palestinian prime minister Mahmoud ‘Abbas on Wednesday and warned of the danger of an armed takeover in Gaza.