Fatah strongman Mohammed Dahlan made a surprising statement Wednesday evening, calling on Hamas to join forces and defend the Muslim holy sites against Israel's policy. He spoke on the backdrop of Tuesday's riots in east Jerusalem and the stalemate in the peace process between Israel and the Palestinians.

Dahlan, a member of Fatah's Central Committee who is considered a bitter enemy of the organization controlling Gaza, urged Hamas to become part of a pan-Palestinian national conference which would form a joint policy to defend the holy sites.

"I truly hope that Hamas will surprise us and join a collective battle, rather than settle for calling on the Palestinians to prepare for an intifada in the West Bank," he said.

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