Leader of the Islamic Jihad directs criticism to Hamas

The leader of the Islamic movement in the Palestinian territories, Ramadan Abdullah Shalah, directed indirect criticism to the Islamic resistance movement, Hamas, due to participation of its spiritual guide, Sheikh Ahmed Yassin on Wednesday in opening the central council's meeting as an observer.

Shalah said in press statements to the London-based al-Hayat newspaper that the attendance of any party opposed to the Oslo agreement at the meeting of the Palestinian Central Council gives legitimacy to the agreement and compromises the opposition, saying that Oslo was signed behind the backs of the Palestinian people.

He also said that consultations took place between the Islamic Jihad and Hamas in the self-rule areas regarding attendance at the meeting.

Shalah said, "Our refusal comes out of a struggle and moral commitment to the case's stability and not a lack of political realism," asserting that Islam and Israel cannot meet under one ceiling, while most of the attendants urge the Palestinian people to coexist with Israel.

The Islamic Jihad did not attend the central council meetings which were held to adjust the national charter at the end of last year and to ratify Oslo in 1993.

Shalah said the main goal of the current meetings is prolonging Oslo's life through extending what is called the transitional period after May 4.