EU Delegation Pushes For Normal Relations With Hamas
Members of a high-profile European parliamentary delegation are urging their governments to engage in direct talks with Hamas and end the Islamic movement's international isolation. The push comes after a marathon meeting Saturday between the delegation and Hamas's political leader Khaled Mashaal, who is in exile in Damascus.
Hamas political leader Khaled Mashaal
The six-member delegation, which includes lawmakers from Britain, Scotland and Ireland, said its first public move would be to encourage more Europeans to recognize Hamas as a legitimate movement that was democratically elected in January, 2006.
Labor Party member Clare Short told reporters following the talks that she would call the British government to also undertake face-to-face talks with Hamas "in the interest of peace." Britain recently softened its stance on dialogue with the political wing of Lebanon's Iranian-backed Hezbollah movement, a political cousin of Hamas which has received the same treatment from Western countries.
Britain, the United States and the European Union all consider Hamas a terrorist organization and refuse to have talks with the group until it renounces violence, recognizes Israel and agrees to all previous peace agreements signed by Palestinian negotiators.
A Damascus-based British diplomat told CBS News that his embassy had "no coordination whatsoever" with the delegation which was "paying the visit on his own contacts."
Another EU delegation, composed of lawmakers from Greece and Italy, was also expected to land in Damascus within a few days for talks with Hamas — another indication that the Islamist group could no longer be sidelined or ignored in regional peacemaking.
Israel's 22-day Gaza war, which killed more than 1,400 Palestinians, half of them children, has fueled demands in Europe that Hamas be treated as an inevitable participant in diplomatic dealings. However, the group was not invited to a recent global conference in Egyptian resort Sharm El-Sheikh to discuss the reconstruction of the Gaza Strip.
"We believe that we should start talking with Hamas, and the more the delay, the more the suffering," Irish EU parliamentarian Chris Andrew said following the talks in Damascus.
Osama Hamdan, a senior Hamas leader based in Lebanon who joined in today's talks, said his group had held several prior meetings with Europeans who asked for a total media blackout.
"But this time the British have decided to get today's talks out from the shadows because they may have realized the failure of the policy of isolating Hamas," Hamdan said.
© 2009 CBS Interactive Inc.. All Rights Reserved. (AP Photo/Bassem Tellawi)
The six-member delegation, which includes lawmakers from Britain, Scotland and Ireland, said its first public move would be to encourage more Europeans to recognize Hamas as a legitimate movement that was democratically elected in January, 2006.
Labor Party member Clare Short told reporters following the talks that she would call the British government to also undertake face-to-face talks with Hamas "in the interest of peace." Britain recently softened its stance on dialogue with the political wing of Lebanon's Iranian-backed Hezbollah movement, a political cousin of Hamas which has received the same treatment from Western countries.
Britain, the United States and the European Union all consider Hamas a terrorist organization and refuse to have talks with the group until it renounces violence, recognizes Israel and agrees to all previous peace agreements signed by Palestinian negotiators.
A Damascus-based British diplomat told CBS News that his embassy had "no coordination whatsoever" with the delegation which was "paying the visit on his own contacts."
Another EU delegation, composed of lawmakers from Greece and Italy, was also expected to land in Damascus within a few days for talks with Hamas — another indication that the Islamist group could no longer be sidelined or ignored in regional peacemaking.
Israel's 22-day Gaza war, which killed more than 1,400 Palestinians, half of them children, has fueled demands in Europe that Hamas be treated as an inevitable participant in diplomatic dealings. However, the group was not invited to a recent global conference in Egyptian resort Sharm El-Sheikh to discuss the reconstruction of the Gaza Strip.
"We believe that we should start talking with Hamas, and the more the delay, the more the suffering," Irish EU parliamentarian Chris Andrew said following the talks in Damascus.
Osama Hamdan, a senior Hamas leader based in Lebanon who joined in today's talks, said his group had held several prior meetings with Europeans who asked for a total media blackout.
"But this time the British have decided to get today's talks out from the shadows because they may have realized the failure of the policy of isolating Hamas," Hamdan said.
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Just for a second...just wonder.. If the huge cels of muslims that live in Britain- would come out of their shell and demand a portion of Britain including part of London because...according to these muslims who called themselves celtic druids (look it up), where the original settlers (even though they were nomads) and the land should be divided and gicen back.
Would Britain discuss the possibility, after all these years, to give it back???? WOuld they engage in seriouos talks?
I wholeheartely doubt it..the answer is NO, they wouldn't!!
Needless to say, the EU, UN would get involved in the constant and violent wars that would follow throughout the years to attempt for peace...but those celtic druids would NEVER give up their jihad.
Occuppy and eliminate would be their motto!!!
REALITY CHECK NOW:
Last week hamas leader announced that: "Hamas will never recognized Israel. We would only accept a two state solution as a temporary solution" and quote.
You don't even have to wonder what their plans are after settling in that "peace" of land.. Ahjamenacrazy's dream would come true!
It is crystal clear: as long as hamas is part of t he equation there will be no peace in the ME...unless they show with actions that they've had a change of heart..chances of that happening.....NONE! and that is reality folks.
Stop putting a blindfold inyour eyes.
If you give them a finger, they will ask for your hand and if you give them your hand, they will demand your arm!
Primitive ideology of controling the world.
Posted by Huizilopochtli at 6:49 AM : Mar 15, 2009
Posted by Huizilopochtli '
If you're here to see the anti-Christ take the throne you'll get your wish, and the world will be forced to submit to him instead, and you most likely will.
But since there OBVIOUSLY isn't, why subscribe to a myth?
Posted by hungry1968-15
"Translation:
I am hungry1968, and my life has no purpose and meaning"
Posted by hungry1968-15
Where is "Palestine" hungrydummy?
Posted by PVperson2
Nope, but happy making stuff up loser
Posted by PVperson2
We'll see who comes out on top in the end pal.
Happy searching for the truth.
if your going to say scotland then you might as well say england instead of britain
1.) When was "Palestine" founded?
2.) What are its borders?
3.) What's it's capital?
4.) What's its main industry that keeps the economy running?
5.) Can you name a "Palestinian" leader before Yasser Arafat?
6.) When was "Palestine" founded again?
Where is "PALESTINE" on the freaking map?!?!?!?!!?!?
DUMB DUMB DUMB DUMB DUMB ATHEISTS!
Posted by WereNotGonnaTakeIT at 10:05 AM : Mar 15, 2009
I answered ALL of these questions in my post at 5:02, didn't I?
Did you NOT see them, or do you deny the existence of UN resolution 181?