GAZA, March 28 (Xinhuanet) -- The Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) and Islamic Jihad (Holy War) may join the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) executive committee, a senior IslamicJihad leader said Monday.

    Mohamed al Hindi told reporters the issue was discussed at a meeting held late Sunday between Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas and senior members of the two Islamic militant groups.

    He said the meeting, which he termed as positive, would pave theway for merging Jihad and Hamas into the PLO executive committee.

    "Another meeting is expected to be held within the coming two days, where PLO executive committee members are scheduled to attendin addition to representatives from Hamas and Islamic Jihad," said al Hindi.

    The scheduled meeting would focus on "bases that the organization would be built on," the leader said, adding "all thesebases are also based on what have been agreed upon in Cairo on March 17."

    Various Palestinian groups agreed at the Cairo dialogue to continue with a period of calmness by the end of 2005, given Israelstops attacks.

    Both Jihad and Hamas, sworn to the destruction of Israel, used to oppose the principle of joining the PLO, however, they modified their stances recently by opening merge talks with the mainstream PLO and agreeing to a temporary halt to violence.

    Hamas also announced to take part in the parliamentary electionsslated for July 17. The group boycotted the first such elections inthe Palestinian territories in 1996. Enditem