Why Hamas Wants to Marginalize the PLO

In the aftermath of the war on Gaza, Khaled Meshaal, Hamas exiled political leader in Damascus, announced plans and a “surprise” to sideline the Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO), arguing that it is outdated and that the Palestinians need “new national authority.” Another Hamas prominent leader Mahmoud al-Zahar earlier this month told Al Jazeera television that Hamas wants to “preserve the structure of the PLO, but not its program.” Supports of such argument say, while Hamas has won the 2006 Palestinian parliamentary elections, confirming Hamas’ legitimacy and popularity among the Palestinians, it is still not a member of the PLO.