Hamas Seeks to Replace the PLO

According to a Islamic Republic News Bureau report Khaled Mashaal, Chief of the Hamas Political Bureau, speaking in Doha rejected calls for any ceasefire unless Israel opens all the Gaza border crossings. But the more important announcement by Mashaal was that Hamas was working with other Palestinian groups to create a new umbrella organization to supersede the PLO, which began as the self-appointed and later became the officially recognized representative of the Palestinian people. [Bolding mine]

During the ceremony [celebrating Hamas's Gaza "victory] political leader of Hamas also announced an unprecedented decision regarding establishment of a new national organization for Palestinian groups instead of Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO).

"Palestinian groups are trying to establish a new organization which all Palestinians and groups active inside the Palestine or in the other countries could be its members," he said.

"In the current situation the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) is not able to act as the Palestinians' representative," he said adding, "The organization has changed into an institute to sow discord among Palestinians."

Addressing George Mitchell, the new American special envoy to the Middle East, Mashaal reiterated that in the case of ignoring the important role Hamas plays in the region, all efforts would be doomed to failure.

"The Palestine national dialogue should be carried out on the basis of the resistance and national principals," he said adding that otherwise it would be an effort to implement foreigners' orders.

Good luck, George.

It will be very interesting to see what happens in the next round of Palestinian elections, if there are any.

Here's the video report from al Jazeera.