Dahlan: Fatah, Hamas Not that Different

Senior Fatah terrorist Mahmoud Dahlan spoke to a Kuwaiti newspaper this week, saying that Hamas must turn control of Gaza over to the Fatah-led Palestinian Authority before the two groups can reunite. The groups have similar long-term goals, he said, “From a practical standpoint, there are no large differences between the two sides.”

Both groups demand control over Judea, Samaria, historic Jerusalem, and Gaza, he said. Both also demand the “return” to Israel of several million foreign Arabs who claim descent from those who fled the country during the War of Independence. The main difference between the two groups is that Hamas does not recognize the authority of Fatah, the Oslo agreements, or the PA, he said.

I'm not some Likudnik who has never seen a Palestinian in his life. I sat with Abu Mazen and with Abu Ala and with Dahlan. Dahlan is a friend of mine.

Mr. Dahlan, along with his assistant Rashid Abu-Shabak, are the primary suspects in the terror attack on an Israeli school bus in Kfar Darom in November 2000. The bombing of the bus left half a dozen children maimed