The militant Palestinian faction Hamas, which has called for Israel's destruction, says it is prepared to join forces with the Western-backed Palestine Liberation Organization.

A Hamas official said Thursday the group is moving towards non-violent resistance against Israel. Hamas controls the West Bank and launching rocket attacks into Israel has been one of the group's trademarks.

Officials with the PLO, Hamas, and several other Palestinian factions met in Cairo Thursday to discuss reforming the PLO, holding elections, and unifying Palestinian leadership.

A spokesman for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says no one should have any illusions about the true nature of Hamas. The spokesman calls Hamas a genocidal terrorist organization.