GAZA: Hamas lawmaker says Dweik arrest undermines Palestinian democratic process

Hamas lawmaker Mushir al-Masri told Reuters Sunday (August 6) that the Israeli arrest of Palestinian parliamentary speaker Aziz Dweik, a leader of the governing Hamas movement, undermines the Palestinian democratic process. Dweik was arrested at his home on the West Bank Sunday just after midnight. "This is in violation of all international laws and regulations and also in violation of the simplest values of democracy and an attempt to attack the Palestinian political organisation. The arrest of the head of the PLC is considered to be crossing all the red lines and shows the commitment of the Jewish state to crush the Palestinian political system, but we stress in exchange, that the enemy the Jewish state if you are capable of arresting our ministers, our deputies and head of the PLC, you will not be able to kidnap the Palestinian spirit. And it's clear that the enemy has reached a point of failure and incompetence in the face of Palestinian resistance and strong commitment," al-Masri said. An Israeli army spokesman confirmed Dweik was taken into custody. Israeli forces detained eight members of the Palestinian cabinet and 23 legislators in June after gunmen from Hamas and two other militant groups infiltrated into Israel from Gaza and kidnapped an Israeli soldier, who is still being held. Three of the ministers have since been released. Hamas, which swept a January parliamentary election, is dedicated to Israel's destruction. International donors have cut funds to the Palestinian government, calling on Hamas to renounce violence, recognise Israel and accept past interim peace deals.

ITN Source | August 6, 2006

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