Gaza's defiant Islamists reject PLO dominance

Mon Dec 14, 2009 3:15pm GMT

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* Hamas discounts PLO decisions in advance

* Islamists refuse to recognise Israel

By Nidal al Mughrabi

GAZA, Dec 14 (Reuters) - The Islamist movement Hamas served notice on Monday that it would ignore any decisions by the Palestine Liberation Organisation this week about future leadership and peace talks with Israel.

"Hamas will not retreat from Jihad and resistance until it achieves freedom and independence for our people," Gaza Strip Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh told a huge rally.

"We will not recognise Israel and we will not abandon resistance..." he said.

In a speech underlining the enduring split in Palestinian ranks between his movement and the secular Fatah group, the Hamas leader in Gaza said any decisions taken by the PLO Central Council meeting in the West Bank would be unconstitutional.

"We say to PLO Central Council members who will meet tomorrow in Ramallah that any decision that contradicts the constitution and contradicts the will of the people, will not be binding," he told tens of thousands of supporters. Continued...

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