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The Hamas-PA Struggle

(Ha'aretz) Zvi Bar'el - Sharon's disengagement plan has compelled the PA and Hamas to try to find a way to share control. Hamas believes the time has come to establish a joint leadership. "The era of discourse between those issuing commands and those following orders is over," wrote Rifat Nasif, a Hamas member from Tulkarm, on the movement's website. Hamas has referred to the PLO as "a representative" of the Palestinian people and not "the sole representative." More explicitly, Hamas leaders regard themselves as a possible alternative to replace the PA. Now they are talking about holding general elections. The hudna talks initiated by Egypt last summer officially and publicly lifted Hamas onto the political track it has avoided for years. The elimination of Rantisi may, according to sources in the PA and Hamas, work to encourage Hamas to pursue the political track and pave the way for it to become part of the government.
2004-04-23 00:00:00
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