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Journalism of Courage
The radical Islamist movement Hamas is ready to heed Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat’s call to join the Palestinian authority but will not be restricted to a symbolic role by its long-time rival.
‘‘We do not want to become political partners by joining already existing institutions on a quota basis without securing any influence on the political decision-making, as is the case for several parties,’’ Sheikh Said Siam, a senior figure within Hamas’ Gaza stronghold said today.
‘‘We want a political partnership along new guidelines which take into account the weight of the various movements,’’ he added.
Veteran leader Arafat, whose Fatah movement dominates the Palestinian authority, said in an interview in the German magazine Focus This Week that he wanted Hamas to be integrated into the official political structure.
Asked if he supported Hamas’ integration into the authority, Arafat replied: ‘‘Yes. They (Hamas) were there from the beginning, even if they did later break away.’’
But relations between Hamas and Arafat supporters have been far from smooth.
Abdelaziz Rantissi, who took over as leader of Hamas in the occupied territories after Israel’s recent assassination of the movement’s founder, Sheikh Ahmed Yassin, has been jailed on a number of occasions by the Palestinian authority.
Meanwhile, the umbrella Palestine Liberation Organisation (PLO) asked Hamas to join a decision-making body to run the Gaza Strip if Israel pulls out, Palestinian officials said on Tuesday. Officials said the offer had been made last week. Hamas officials said they were drawing up a response. But the proposed body would not replace the PLO, Palestinian officials said.
