PLO, Hamas Agree on Joint Command
The Palestine Liberation Organization and the Islamic fundamentalist group Hamas have agreed to form a joint command to direct the Palestinian uprising against Israel, group representatives said Wednesday.
The two rivals will also form committees to try to end their often bloody disputes and to coordinate efforts on behalf of about 400 Palestinian fundamentalists deported by Israel to Lebanon, many of them accused of membership in Hamas.
Key differences remain over Palestinian participation in the U.S.-sponsored Mideast peace process, which Hamas vehemently opposes.
Hamas, an acronym for the Islamic Resistance Movement, was formed in 1987. It had evolved into the PLO’s main rival for influence in the Israeli-occupied territories.
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