RAMALLAH, Palestine
A leading member of Palestinian resistance group Hamas on Sunday said his movement had not been invited to attend next month’s scheduled meeting of the Palestinian National Council (PNC).
“This is a coup against legitimacy represented by Hamas, which holds the most seats in the Palestinian Legislative Council [parliament],” Hamas member Hassan Youssef told Anadolu Agency.
The PNC, which is responsible for electing members of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO)’s executive committee, is set to convene in mid-September in Ramallah.
The last time the council convened was in 1996.
Last week, Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas resigned from the PLO’s executive committee -- along with a number of other members -- in a move seen by some observers as an attempt to justify convening the PNC.
Hamas, Youssef asserted, would not attend the planned PNC meeting “even if it was invited”.
“Holding the PNC meeting has nothing to do with getting Palestine’s house in order,” he said.
In a veiled reference to Abbas’ Fatah movement -- Hamas’ longtime rival -- Youssef added: “It’s simply aimed at facilitating a certain party.”
According to a PLO source, meanwhile, Hamas’ political bureau has already told the organization that Hamas representatives would not be attending the PNC meeting.
The PNC is comprised of 740 members representing all Palestinian factions (except resistance groups Hamas and Islamic Jihad), members of the legislative council, union representatives and independent figures.
