RAMALLAH, West Bank, Dec. 28 (UPI) -- Several Palestinian leaders Saturday called on Hamas to distance itself from Egypt's Muslim Brotherhood.
A Fatah representative on the Palestinian Liberation Organization's executive committee said there could be political, economic and security consequences if Hamas remained aligned with "this banned terrorist group," Ma'an News Agency reported. Jamal Muheisin said Hamas should "confirm loyalty to the Palestinian people and the question of Palestine."
An Arab Liberation Front official said Hamas has put the Muslim Brotherhood's interests above those of the Palestinian people.
"The [Hamas] movement's subordination to the Muslim Brotherhood organization has weakened the Palestinian position," Mahmoud Ismail said.
Ahmad Majdalani of the Palestinian Popular Struggle Front said Hamas is viewed as a terrorist organization by many countries, including the United States, due to its ties to the Brotherhood.
The PLO officials comments follow the Egyptian government's designation of the Brotherhood as a terrorist organization.