Hamas calls on Palestinian factions to boycott PNC meeting

The Islamic Hamas movement on Wednesday called on Palestinian factions to boycott the Palestinian's National Council (PNC) two-day session, which is scheduled for Sept. 14 in Ramallah.

According to Sami Abu Zuhri, a Gaza Hamas spokesman, Palestinian factions should boycott PNC sessions "to prevent President Mahmoud Abbas from carrying out absurd actions."

"Hamas reiterated that Abbas's unilateral decision to hold PNC sessions under such circumstances implies his nullification of all agreements and understandings, thereby damaging Palestinian unity," said Abu Zuhri.

Abbas resigned Tuesday as Chair of Palestine's Liberation Organization (PLO) executive committee, along with nine additional committee members, and declared to quit politics soon.

The PNC is scheduled to hold a two-day regular session on Sept. 14 in the West Bank city of Ramallah to elect a chairman and new PLO executive committee members.

Hamas, not a PLO member, opposed the decision to hold the session, saying it did not coordinate with the Islamic movement that has been ruling the Gaza Strip since 2007.

Meanwhile, a PNC speaker said that invitation letters to attend the PNC session in Ramallah have already been sent to Palestinian factions as well as PNC members in Palestinian territories and overseas.

The PLC, or the PNA parliament that is dominated by the Hamas movement, has been inoperative since Hamas's violent takeover of the Gaza Strip and the overpowering of President Abbas's security forces in 2007. Endit