The Islamic Resistance Movement, Hamas, said Wednesday its decision to join the PLO stemmed from deep concerns about the Palestinian national cause. In an interview with the Palestinian Information Center (PIC), Hamas spokesman and leader in the Gaza Strip Dr. Mahmoud Zahar said the integration of Hamas into the PLO would strengthen the overall Palestinian stance vis-à-vis the occupiers.
Zahar suggested that the PLO, and therefore the PA, were not strong enough and reliable enough to be entrusted "alone" to the national cause. "I can tell you that one of the main reasons for joining the PLO is to prevent it from conceding to Israel on the paramount national issues," said Zahar.
When asked if he thought that the inclusion of Hamas into the PLO would radicalize the latter and consequently make a peace settlement with Israel even more unlikely, Zahar pointed out that Hamas and the bulk of Palestinians didn't believe that "peace with Israel is around the corner."
"We are convinced that Israel is only using the so-called peace process as a rubric for consolidating its occupation and colonization in the West Bank."
"What is happening now and which will continue for many years to come is not a real political process, it is actually no more than public relations and crisis management, the Americans known it, the Zionists known it and even the PA knows it…"
On his part, a prominent Palestinian intellectual and academic said Wednesday that a Hamas-influenced PLO will be more capable of withstanding international, including Arab, pressure to compromise on such cardinal issues as Jerusalem, the refugees, and Jewish colonies in the West Bank.
Ali Jerbawi, Professor of Political Science at Beirzeit University and former head of the Palestinian Election Commission, said Hamas decision to join the PLO was good news for the Palestinian people and heralded a trend toward political maturity and national unity. "Hamas will influence and be influenced as is usually the case in such circumstances. However, I do believe that the inclusion of Hamas will make the PLO more meticulous and more determined about safeguarding Palestinian rights," he told PIC.
Jerbawi described the current "efforts" as ineffective and insincere and in no way constitute a peace process. "What peace process are you talking about? Sharon is devouring what has remained of the West Bank and Bush is endorsing everything Sharon is doing."
