State Department cable from the American Consulate in Jerusalem describing a lull in the overt Hamas-PLO competition on the West Bank, which, it says, is based on a shared tactical interest in ending Israeli occupation. Underneath the current concord, however, divergent visions of post-occupation Palestine ensure the continuation of a long-term rivalry. Although well organized, Hamas remains too weak to take on either the PLO or Israeli forces in frontal confrontations. Nevertheless, if the upcoming PNC embarks on a political process, Hamas-PLO competition will likely intensify.
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