Senior Hamas official in the West Bank, Sheikh Hassan Yusuf, on Monday told Israel public radio that his movement is interested in joining a Palestinian unity government, and thus might agree to a ceasefire with Israel that would last 10 years.
Yusuf, who was freed last week from an Israeli jail, added he would not reject a halt to suicide bombings against Israelis during final status negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians.
Hamas is aware of the new realities and would like to take advantage of the opportunities that it believes has been presented to it, Yusuf added.
Meanwhile, the Palestinian leadership under Mahmoud Abbas (Abu Mazen) has ordered the local media to stop "incitement" against Israel, the London-based Asharq al-Awsat newspaper reported on Monday. It said that it received this information from senior Palestinian officials.
