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PLO, resistance groups weigh reforms
 The Palestine Liberation Organisation might let two resistance groups join its ranks for the first time, a leader of one of the groups has said. Islamic Jihad and Hamas had in the past objected to joining the mainstream PLO, opposing its peace moves with Israel, but recently have softened their stance and agreed to a temporary halt to attacks against the Jewish state. In a meeting late on Sunday, Palestinian President Mahmud Abbas agreed to Islamic Jihad members taking part in a meeting of the PLO executive this week to help cement the 17 March truce, Islamic Jihad leader Muhammad al-Hindi said on Monday. Al-Hindi said both his group and Hamas would attend the PLO session "to discuss a basis on which the PLO should be rebuilt" and said the PLO would consider an effort to let them join the organisation. Abbas, a moderate elected in January, said after the Gaza meeting that he was seeking to further "national unity and calm" with the groups. "It is necessary to follow up these issues with them so that we can push forward calm and the political process," or peace talks with Israel, Abbas said. Aljazeera reporter Walid al-Umari said Abbas' meeting with Islamic Jihad leaders covered results of the recent Palestinian factions' meeting in Cairo, the issue of calm with Israel, national unity, Palestinian elections as well as the feasibility of Islamic Jihad and Hamas being integrated into the PLO. Posted by: Fred 2005-03-29 |
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