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Abbas' decision to lift immunity from 5 MPs "unlawful": Palestinian groups

Xinhua, December 22, 2016 Adjust font size:

Hamas and Fatah Party lawmakers said Wednesday that a recent decision by Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas to strip five parliament members of their immunity was "unlawful and inconsistent with the constitution."

Lifting the parliamentary immunity requires the consent of two thirds of parliament members and should come after a series of legislative measures, according to a statement issued after a joint session in Gaza.

The session was attended by Hamas parliamentarians for the first time since 2007.

The Palestinian law "guarantees special immunity for parliament members that does not expire after they leave the parliament," the statement said.

The lawmakers deplored Abbas' decision, saying it was a blatant intervention in the legislative authority.

Abbas decided on Dec. 12 to lift the parliamentary immunity from five Fatah members of parliament, according to a statement by Legal Advisor Hasan Al-Oury.

Prior to the decision, the Palestinian Constitutional Court issued a decision allowing Abbas to lift parliamentary immunity in a controversial move that spurred criticism by several rights groups.

The Palestinian Legislative Council was elected in 2006, but its work stopped since 2007 after the Islamic Hamas movement violently took control of the Gaza Strip. Endit