Hamas has invited several terrorist groups to join the new unity government of the Palestinian Authority, alongside Fatah leader Mahmoud Abbas, who has been defined as a moderate by Israel and Western nations. The invitations to the terrorist groups were issued shortly after Abbas and Palestinian Authority (PA) Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh hammered out a not-yet implemented unity agreement in Mecca two weeks ago.


The latest group to be invited is the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP), whose platform calls for the destruction of Israel and for continued terrorist attacks. Thus far, the PFLP has held out for more ministerial representation. The United States has defined the PFLP as a terrorist organization.
 
The Islamic Jihad, which claimed responsibility for Tuesday's foiled suicide bombing in Tel Aviv, already rejected an invitation to join the government.


The latest group to be invited is the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP), whose platform calls for the destruction of Israel and for continued terrorist attacks.



A third group, the Palestinian People's party (PPP), is negotiating with Hamas political leader Ismail Haniyeh over terms for joining the unity government.


The refusal of Hamas to recognize Israel, renounce terrorism and accept existing agreements between the PA and Israel has cast Fatah leader and PA chairman Abbas as a moderate, who, in theory, has accepted the three conditions laid out by the international community for recognition of the PA. However, terrorist organizations associated with Fatah have continued to attack Israel since Abbas and Prime Minister Ehud Olmert announced a ceasefire in late November. Terrorists have planted at least 22 bombs along the Gaza separation barrier and fired more than 100 Kassam rockets at Jewish communities in the western Negev.


Abbas has said that he would recognize Israel in the future, but only on condition that Israel surrender all of Judea and Samaria, with Jerusalem becoming the capital of a new Arab state. Like Hamas, he also has insisted that millions of Arabs currently self-identified as stateless refugees in other countries be allowed to live in Israel, effectively making Jews a minority.


Zionist Organization of America (ZOA) president Morton A. Klein stated that the invitations to other terrorist groups to join the government is "further proof that Mahmoud Abbas is not a moderate peace-maker that so many claim him to be, but is, in fact, an extremist terrorist committed to Fatah's long-standing goal of destroying Israel. This should not be so surprising in light of his recent statement that 'our rifles, all our rifles, are aimed at the Occupation [Israel].'"
 
A Hamas spokesman said that the ceasefire it agreed to enact with Israel several months ago is now over, following Israel's killing of a terrorist leader in Shechem earlier this week.