Mahmoud Abbas seeks to integrate Hamas into Palestinian Authority

Palestinian Authority Chairman Abu Mazen is reportedly seeking to reintegrate Hamas into the Palestinian Authority system almost twenty years after the 2007 coup, according to a report today (Thursday) by Israel Hayom.

According to the report, "Palestinian sources told the newspaper "Al-Sharq Al-Awsat" this evening that Palestinian Authority Chairman Abu Mazen has instructed senior officials in Fatah and other PLO factions to establish direct communication with Hamas in order to reach an agreement that would incorporate the terrorist organization into the Palestinian political system.

"According to the sources, Abu Mazen demanded that Fatah leaders pressure Hamas directly or through countries with influence over it, with the aim of moving to a new phase in which Hamas would become a political party, hand over the Gaza Strip to the Palestinian Authority, and be bound by its decisions and laws.

"It was also reported that Abu Mazen instructed the establishment of a dialogue committee with Hamas, consisting of senior Fatah officials and members of the PLO Executive Committee. The goal is to end the division that began with Hamas's coup in Gaza in 2007."