Louis Lingg writes: "The Bush administration pointedly avoided including HAMAS and Islamic Jihad in their released list of terrorist organizations. This due perhaps to their recognition that neither directly threatens American citizens nor interests, or to the recognition that the cooperration of both is required to resolve the Palestinian issue.

Middle East News Wire has posted an interview with Ghazi Hamad from 'Palestinian Report.' Hamad is an HAMAS affiliate and editor of the Islamist publication Al Risala.

An excerpt: Palestinian Report: What are the differences between Hamas and Islamic Jihad?

Hamad: The ideology of
Hamas is more widespread, because they are a part of the Muslim Brotherhood all over the
world and they get experience from different countries. They are more involved in political
issues, political experiments.

Perhaps because its leaders are many and its institutions form a kind of school of philosophy
and because they have been willing to build a relationship with the [Palestinian] Authority, I think Hamas
tends to be more pragmatic and can create a kind of common understanding with the Authority.
These days, they can be closer to each other, they can understand each other. Islamic Jihad
keeps away from this political game because it feels that the armed struggle is the only way to
achieve their goals."