Senior Palestinian official calls for unification of Islamic Jihad, Hamas into PLO

The former Fatah official stated that he is not calling for a national reconciliation between Fatah and Hamas. Instead, his solution "is to unify all Palestinian governmental groups into the PLO."

By JPOST.COM STAFF
Updated: AUGUST 30, 2015 14:17
Palestinian president Abbas stands between PM Haniyeh and senior Fatah leader Dahlan in Gaza (photo credit: SUHAIB SALEM / REUTERS)
Palestinian president Abbas stands between PM Haniyeh and senior Fatah leader Dahlan in Gaza
(photo credit: SUHAIB SALEM / REUTERS)
Prominent Palestinian politician and former Fatah member Muhammad Dahlan called for the integration of all Palestinian factions, including Islamic Jihad and Hamas, into the Palestinian Liberation Organization's new government, BBC Arabic reported late last week.
Dahlan, a former leader of Fatah in Gaza, said in his interview that "the homeland of Palestine and the state of the PLO is in danger," citing the fact that the number of Israeli settlements have increased under Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas's rule.
Dahlan also stated that he is not calling for a national reconciliation between Fatah and Hamas. Instead, his solution, he said, "is to unify all Palestinian governmental groups into the PLO."
Dahlan's statements came a few days after Abbas announced that he had submitted his resignation from the Executive Committee of the Palestinian Liberation Organization, along with nine other of its members. According to BBC Arabic, Abbas said the goal of his resignation is to "activate the role of the of the Executive Committee, which is the ruling government of the state of Palestine."
In response, Dahlan said that Abbas "does not want elections nor does he want to resign. He also does not want an open reconciliation between Fatah and Hamas."
In regards to who he would like to see as president in Abbas's place, Dahlan replied, "I do not, and will not, seek the presidency; however, I have the right to nominate myself if I wanted to."
Dahlan also demanded a halt in all security coordination with Israel, and claimed that the Oslo Accords have "expired" and are no longer relevant.
Dahlan was chosen to head the Preventative Security Forces in Gaza after the signing of the Oslo Accords.
"I was part of the security agreement when it was based on political and economic security between us and Israel. Today, however, it is a very different time," he said in his interview.
The Palestinian National Council, who are in charge of PLO policies and electing PLO officials, is set to meet next month for the first time in 20 years, Ma'an News said Sunday.