Haneyya slams PA for barring speaker Dwaik from entering parliament

Palestinian premier Ismail Haneyya strongly denounced the PA in Ramallah for preventing PLC speaker Dr. Aziz Dwaik, released Tuesday from Israeli jails, from entering the parliament headquarters, adding that he is not optimistic about the success of the national dialog after what happened to Dwaik.

During his visit to the tent pitched for the reception celebrating Dr. Dwaik”s release, premier Haneyya said that the closure of the parliament’s doors in the face of speaker Dwaik is a message from the PA that it does not recognize the presidency and the legitimacy of the PLC.

He expressed his rejection of all attempts to cast doubt on the legitimacy of Dwaik as the PLC speaker and considered that bad faith towards the national dialog and an attempt to undermine the Palestinian legitimacy.

“We have to tell our people frankly that what is happening in the West Bank places many obstacles to reaching a Palestinian reconciliation agreement,” the premier highlighted.

In a statement, the Palestinian government in Gaza stressed Wednesday the need for holding an official welcoming ceremony for Dr. Dwaik at the highest levels because he represents the higher echelon of the Palestinian legitimacy and the symbol of Palestinian steadfastness, pride and dignity.

The statement underlined that the steadfastness of Dr. Dwaik and his fellow lawmakers established a state of pride and raised the morale of the Palestinian people, noting his release was a natural result of the state of fortitude demonstrated by the speaker while in captivity.

The statement called for using Dr. Dwaik’s release as a positive occasion to achieve the national reconciliation, emphasizing the need for creating the atmosphere for the resumption of dialog through stopping the field and media campaigns waged against national figures, citizens and institutions.

In the same context, the ministry of prisoners in Gaza congratulated Dr. Dwaik on his release from Israeli jails after three years of captivity.

In a press statement, the ministry hailed his release as a victory for the will of Palestinian lawmakers who endured the suffering of being in Israeli jails, saying that Dr. Dwaik set the finest example through his patience and steadfastness.

The ministry also extended congratulations to Fatah lawmaker Jamal Al-Huwail on his release from Israeli jails after serving a seven-year imprisonment sentence.

Dr. Aziz Dwaik, the PLC speaker, received a series of telegrams and letters sent by a number of heads of parliaments in Arab and Muslim countries congratulating him on his release and wishing him every success in his parliamentary work.