To the sounds of Allahu Akbar [God is greatest], the new Hamas cabinet on Tuesday won the confidence of the Palestinian Legislative Council after a two-day session that was held here and in Gaza City through video conference.

The cabinet, headed by Ismail Haniyeh, was ratified by a majority of 71 votes. Thirty-six legislators, all members of Fatah, voted against the cabinet, and another two abstained. Altogether, 109 out of 132 PLC members took part in the vote. The remaining 13 legislators, belonging to the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine [PFLP], Hamas and Fatah, are all in Israeli prison...

...Immediately after the vote, several Hamas legislators began shouting the famous Islamic battle cry of Allahu Akbar, saying this was an historical moment for the Palestinians.

Holding high a copy of the Koran, legislator Hamed Bitawi shouted: "The Koran is our constitution, Mohammed is our prophet, jihad [holy war] is our path and dying for the sake of Allah is our biggest wish." His remark drew a thunderous applause from all his Hamas colleagues.

Addressing the council, Haniyeh said he was "moved to tears" by the vote and defended his cabinet's controversial program, saying it was "born straight from the embryo of resistance."

He was referring to critics who accused him of failing to emphasize the need to pursue the fight against Israel in his speech before the PLC on Monday.

"I mentioned the word resistance more than once in my speech," he said...