GAZA, March 27 (Xinhua) -- Members of the Palestinian Legislative Council (PLC) convened in both the West Bank city of Ramallah and Gaza City on Monday 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 had begun in both Gaza and the West Bank, while Dweik and the entire PLC members in the West Bank were communicating with their Gaza colleagues via the live video conference system.

    Dweik said at the opening session, "The PLC is convening today to give confidence to the 10th 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.

    "From the PLC, the Palestinians are applying to the Arab summit that is convening in Sudan," he said, 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 will read before of us his ministerial statement," said Dweik.

    Only 105 out of the 132 lawmakers of the parliament attended Monday's session, with 10 absent with an excuse, four without excuse and 13 others currently jailed in Israeli prisons.

    Hamas spokesman in the parliament Salah al-Bardaweel told reporters shortly before the session began that the parliament's three-day meeting would focus on debating the new cabinet and its government agenda.

    The debates are expected to end on Wednesday with a vote of confidence.

    Entering the parliament hall shortly before the session started, Haneya sounded comfortable and confident that the PLC would give his cabinet a green light.

    In a speech before the parliament, Haneya said, "I present the governing program and the government for your (lawmakers') approval."

    "We are confident that the cabinet will gain the legislative council's approval. Meanwhile, the cabinet will express its determination to stick to the national principles and reinforce political partnership," Haneya said.

    The Hamas prime minister-designate also said that his cabinet would focus on the protection of the national unity and the Palestinian peoples' right to defend themselves against the Israeli aggressions.

    Founded in 1987 amid the backdrop of the first Palestinian Intifada (Uprising), Hamas defeated Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas' long dominant Fatah movement in the Jan. 15 legislative elections and won 74 seats in the 132-member parliament.

    The Fatah movement has garnered 45 seats and the remaining seats are shared among left wing parties and independents. It is the first time for the Palestinians that Hamas becomes the largest faction in the parliament and heads a new government.

    The parliament, in which Hamas commands an outright majority, is expected to approve the Hamas-led new cabinet.

    Hamas calls for Israel's destruction and rejects the interim peace deals between Israel and the Palestinians, but it has largely abided by a ceasefire agreement with Israel since early last year. Enditem