Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat was considering forming a united leadership front which comprises various national and Islamic powers, well-informed Palestinian sources said.

The issue was put into agenda in the wake of the latest Israeli large-scale raids in the southern Gaza Strip town of Rafah and northern West Bank city of Jenin, said the sources.

The front would be responsible for all Palestinian political bodies, such as the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) and the Palestinian National Council (PNC), the sources added.

It is said that the Palestinian National Authority (PNA) has been showing reservations about this issue, fearing the united leadership could weaken PNA's political competence.

However, hardline groups such as Islamic Jihad and Hamas gave their endorsement to the proposal that entails modifications in the Palestinian political agenda.

The decision was taken in view of the failure of the internationally-backed roadmap peace plan and the US administration's biased stance toward Israel, the sources said.

The united leadership would bring about the forming of a fresh and expanded cabinet that includes members of different Palestinian factions in order to achieve domestic reforms and stability, the sources said.

(Xinhua News Agency October 24, 2003)