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Hamas threatens new violence if no political deal

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CAIRO, Egypt (CNN) -- A Hamas political leader warned Saturday of a new uprising if no progress is made to establish a Palestinian state based on borders before the 1967 war with Israel.

"We give the international community six months for real political horizons. ... There is a historic opportunity for a Palestinian state within the 1967 borders," Khaled Meshaal told reporters in Cairo, Egypt.

"If our demands are not met, the Palestinian people will close all political files and launch a third intifada."

Meshaal, who lives in Syria, was in Egypt for discussions on forming a national unity government with the rival Palestinian movement, Fatah.

The talks coincide with fighting between Israeli troops and Palestinian militants in the Palestinian territory of Gaza, which borders Israel.

Israel took over the West Bank, eastern Jerusalem, and Gaza during the Six-Day War against Israel's Arab neighbors in 1967. Although Palestinians had inhabited the lands, Jewish towns and makeshift settlements emerged there after the war, and it wasn't until last year that Israel withdrew its troops from Gaza and handed internal control to the Palestinian Authority.

Israeli military operations continue in Gaza, however, to combat what the Israelis say is steady rocket fire into Israel.

The Palestinians -- whose political authority covers the West Bank and Gaza -- believe Jerusalem is their capital, as does Israel.

The first intifada began in 1987 and ended in the early '90s during the Oslo accords and the establishment of the Palestinian Authority. The second erupted in 2000.

Palestinians: Israeli troops kill two

Israeli forces killed an Islamic Jihad militant Saturday morning south of Beit Hanoun, according to Palestinian security sources. The Israel Defense Forces said troops shot at two Palestinian gunmen, including an Islamic Jihad militant.

Militants had planted explosives near IDF forces south of the area, IDF said.

A second Palestinian was killed near Karni Crossing late Friday, Palestinian security sources said. The IDF said troops shot three Palestinians as they were moving toward IDF forces near the crossing, only to find out later they were not armed.

In addition, an Israeli airstrike wounded three Palestinians Saturday east of Jabalya. The IDF said it was checking the report. Tanks also shelled two houses in Beit Lahya, also in northern Gaza, but it was unclear whether there were any casualties, the Palestinian security sources said. An IDF spokesman denied any shelling.

Dodd to retire from Senate Sen. Chris Dodd, D-Connecticut, plans to announce his retirement Wednesday, two sources close to the lawmaker told CNN.

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