Palestinian Foreign Minister Says Hamas Can Join PLO If Admitting Israel And Releasing Its Military Wings

Palestinian Foreign Minister Riyad Maliki. (Wikimedia Commons/Asamblea Nacional del Ecuador)

JAKARTA - Palestinian Authority Foreign Minister (PA) Riyad al-Maliki said Hamas could join the Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO) if the militant group recognized Israel and released its military wing.

"If they agree to our terms then they must accept all international resolutions related to Palestine," Maliki said in an interview with Euronews, quoted from The Times of Israel January 24.

On that occasion, Foreign Minister Maliki was also asked whether that also meant Hamas had to give in to Israel as was the case with the PLO.

"Yes, of course. We cannot simply ignore the existence of Israel, while Israel already occupies all of Gaza and continues to occupy the West Bank and East Jerusalem," Maliki replied.

"If Hamas agrees to all these requirements, then we will do our best to combine them and turn Hamas into a political party without military wings," he explained.

It is known that although both are led by Mahmoud Abbas, PLO is different from PA. PLO has a function as an umbrella political body representing Palestinians around the world. Meanwhile, PLO acts as a government entity in several parts of the West Bank.