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In the first swearing in of a Palestinian parliament in ten years, a Hamas-dominated Palestinian parliament was inaugurated in the West Bank and Gaza on Saturday. During the ceremony Abbas was expected to formally ask Hamas, which controls 74 of the 132 seats in the new legislature, to form the next government. Abbas said that the Oslo agreement was a political reality which was being followed and could not be ignored. He stressed that Palestinian national interests must take precedence over individual factions. "On my part, you will find all the cooperation and encouragement you need, because our national interest is our first and final goal, and is above any individual faction." Hamas has nominated one of their senior leaders, Ismail Haniyeh as prime minister.
Mahmoud Zahar, a leader newly elected to serve in parliament, spoke over video link from Gaza saying, “We have to be the new servants for the Palestinian issue, the Palestinian detainees, the Palestinian land, the Holy Land and also for the people." Europe, America and Israel regard Hamas as a terrorist organisation, and may impose serious financial sanctions if a Hamas-led government refuses to recognise the state of Israel.
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