Members of the Palestinian Legislative Council (PLC) convened in both the West Bank town city of Ramallah and Gaza City yesterday for three days, aiming at discussing and approving the new Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas)-led cabinet that was formed by incoming Prime Minister Ismail Haneya.

Aziz Dweik, Speaker of the PLC announced that the first-day sessions have begun in both Gaza and the West Bank, while Dweik and the entire PLC members in the West Bank are communicating with their Gaza colleagues via the live video conference system.

Dweik said at the opening session that "the PLC is convening today to give confidence to the tenth Palestinian cabinet ever." "This session is historic for the Palestinian people who are eager to achieve their freedom and independence. We are practicing a unique democracy that has to be respected by the whole world," said Dweik to the PLC members.

He said that "from the PLC, the Palestinians are applying to the Arab summit that is convening in Sudan," adding "we wish the success for the summit to serve the interests of the Arabs and our people in particular."

"We are here today to hear from Haneya who formed a new cabinet, and who would read before us his ministerial statement," said Dweik.

Hamas spokesman in the PLC Salah al-Bardaweel told reporters shortly before the session began that the agenda of PLC three-day sessions would focus on debating the new cabinet's political, economical and security platforms.

The PLC debates would end on Wednesday, while the new cabinet, the ministers and its platforms are scheduled to be presented before the PLC members for a confidence vote.

As Haneya entered into the hall shortly before the session started, while Gaza Strip PLC members are all convening, Haneya sounded comfortable and confident that the PLC would give his cabinet its confidence.