Palestinian prime minister-designate Ismail Haneya presented his new Hamas-led cabinet list and government program to the Hamas-dominated Palestinian Legislative Council (PLC) for approval on Monday.

"This session is historic for the Palestinian people who are eager to achieve their freedom and independence," said Hamas PLC Speaker Aziz Dweik at the beginning of the three-day session, which was convening in both Gaza City and the West Bank city of Ramallah, via a live video conference system.

About 105 out of 132 PLC members attended Monday's session. Haneya, a 43-year-old Hamas leader, said that his government was ready to talk with the Middle East Quartet Committee to end the conflict with Israel and achieve just and comprehensive peace in the Middle East.

"Our government will be prepared to hold dialogue with the international quartet about the ways to end the conflict and install calm in the region," Haneya told the lawmakers.

The Quartet, which groups the United States, the European Union, the United Nations and Russia, has urged Hamas to renounce violence, recognize Israel's right to exist and respect all international peace deals signed by the Palestinian National Authority (PNA) including the roadmap plan aimed at establishing an independent Palestinian state alongside Israel.

Haneya promised to protect the Palestinians' right to continue their struggle until the establishment of an independent Palestinian state with Jerusalem as its capital. "Our government will spare no effort to reach a just peace in the region, putting an end to the occupation and restoring our rights," Haneya said.

He rejected Israeli plan to unilaterally fix borders with the Palestinians which would "turn our homeland into isolated cantons that kills any opportunity for a living state".

Haneya called on the US not to punish the Palestinian people's democratic choice by cutting financial aid to the PNA." The Palestinian people should not be punished for exercising their right to choose their leaders in free and democratic elections," Haniya said.

"Those who think that economic pressure is going to make our government collapse or undermine the determination of our people are very much mistaken."

While Israel has banned contact with Hamas-led government and withheld transfer of tax payment to the PNA, the West has threatened to stop aid to the PNA unless Hamas met the Quartet demands.

Haneya said that his government would seek talks with all countries to ensure the continuation of aid, adding that all funds received would be spent "in complete transparency". "I'm confident that the cabinet would gain the legislative council's confidence," Haneya said while walking into the hall shortly before the session started.

As Hamas holds 74 seats in the 132-seat PLC, a vote of confidence is seen as just procedure.

Al-Bardaweel, a Palestinian analyst, said that the big test was not the confidence but the challenges that were facing the new government.

He said the confidence vote could take place on Tuesday or Wednesday.

It will be the first time for Hamas to take power since its establishment in December 1987.

The militant group, which is committed to the destruction of Israel, won the legislative elections on January 25.

(Xinhua News Agency March 28, 2006)