Hamas, Islamic Jihad join Palestine Liberation OrganizationDecember 23, 2011 - 10:41 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - Members of radical Palestinian movements Hamas and Islamic Jihad have joined the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO), the sole legitimate representative of Palestinians on the international arena. Founded in 1964, PLO has the UN observer status and comprises ten member movements with Fatah being the major political force. Throughout it 24-year history, Hamas had refused to join or recognize the organization and its international status. Leaders of several Palestinian political groups, including Hamas and Fatah, agreed on Thursday, December 22, to take part in "activating and reconstructing" the PLO, RIA Novosti reported quoting the Ma'an news agency. "We're now in the phase of national dialogue," an Islamic Jihad leader Khaled Al-Batsh told Ma'an. "We're in the interim leadership framework, which will handle restructuring the PLO, and we hope to succeed." The Palestinian National Initiative (PNI), a political movement advocating social democracy and secularism and viewing itself as a "democratic third force" opposed to Fatah and Hamas, also joined the PLO. Head of the PNI Mustafa Barghouthi called it "a historic day in the lives of the Palestinian people with the development of a united national leadership as Hamas, Islamic Jihad and the PNI joined the PLO's leadership framework." Israel slammed the move as yet another obstacle in the peace process. Mark Regev, a spokesman for Israeli premier, said that if Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas "embraces Hamas, if he walks toward Hamas, he is walking away from peace." Top stories Authorities said a total of 192 Azerbaijani troops were killed and 511 were wounded during Azerbaijan’s offensive. In 2023, the Azerbaijani government will increase the country’s defense budget by more than 1.1 billion manats ($650 million). The bill, published on Monday, is designed to "eliminate the shortcomings of an unreasonably broad interpretation of the key concept of "compatriot". The earthquake caused a temporary blackout, damaged many buildings and closed a number of rural roads. Partner news | Armenia offers to temporarily host, preserve Gaza manuscripts The Armenian Foreign Minister has said Yerevan is ready to help preserve manuscripts from the conflict zone in Gaza. Aliyev says no need for mediators in Armenia-Azerbaijan process Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev believes that Baku and Yerevan do not mediators in the process of normalizing relations. Aram I supports Karekin II’s “patriotic position” Catholicos of the Great House of Cilicia Aram I has expressed support for the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin. U.S. believes peace is “possible” in South Caucasus The United States continues to believe that peace is possible in the South Caucasus, Vedant Patel said. |