Hamas drops call for Greater Palestine

Palestinian Authority leader Mahmoud Abbas has reached a historic understanding to incorporate Hamas into the Palestinian Liberation Oraganization (PLO) in exchange for relinquishing its vision of liberating the whole of Palestine, reported the London-based al-Quds newspaper Wednesday.

According to the report, Fatah will relinquish its monopoly on government and political influence, while

Hamas has recognized the PLO as the only legitimate Palestinian organization.

Agree to 1967 borders- for now

In addition, Hamas has agreed in principle to a series of far-reaching concessions, primarily acceptance of the PLO’s current political platform, which is based on the founding of a Palestinian state according to the 1967 borders.  Verification of the report would mean the movement has abandoned its primary demand -- namely, the liberation of Greater Palestine.

Despite the agreement, however, Hamas reserves the right to return to its original demand in the future.

Changes to Palestinian National Council

On the diplomatic front, Hamas has pledged to make every effort to maintain the current calm and “to refrain from entering the Israeli game of provocation.” The newspaper also reported that Hamas has agreed to cease all suicide attacks and firing of qassam rockets towards Israeli targets and to ( freeze) but not to annul, the armed struggle, as preparation for joining the political game.

Hamas has also agreed to forfeit its demand for half the seats in the council, in exchange for the number of seats it would win in the elections. Moreover, Abbas has consented to bring Hamas activists into the Palestinian National Council (PLO parliament), and to take up a similar number of seats in the PLO executive committee. The sides also reportedly agreed to change the method of elections in the Palestinian Authority, and have posponed local authority elections until August.