[MEW - the "long term peace" mentioned here is actually a "hudna" - a truce of
convenience]

Hamas: EU, US want to talk
http://english.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/0ED6CCF3-289E-4113-90DE-55828A1E281D.htm

By Khalid Amayreh in the West Bank


Monday 06 June 2005, 20:30 Makka Time, 17:30 GMT


Hamas says it is being approached by European representatives seeking dialogue
on the resistance movement's role in the Palestinian-Israeli peace process.


Under heavy Israeli and American pressure, Hamas, including its political
wing, was placed on the EU list of terrorist groups two years ago.

The US had classified Hamas as a "terrorist group" several years earlier,
citing resistance attacks, including suicide bombings, by Hamas' military
wing, the Izz al-Din al-Qassam Brigades, against Israeli civilian and military
targets.

However, the growing popularity of Hamas, which found expression in recent
elections in the occupied Palestinian territories in the West Bank and Gaza
Strip, has prompted European policy planners to have second thoughts.

Indications

Hamas' chief spokesman in the Gaza Strip, Mahmud al-Zahar, said there were
clear signs to suggest the US and the EU were contemplating changing their
minds vis-a-vis Hamas.

"We have met with a number of diplomats here in Gaza, and they told us they
were interested in talking to us," al-Zahar told Aljazeera.net.

He added that the US administration was considering starting talks with five
Islamic movements in the Middle East and western Asia, including Hamas, Hizb
Allah, the Muslim Brotherhood, Islamic Jihad and the Jama Islamiya (Islamic
group) in Pakistan.




Al-Zahar said the Americans and Europeans wanted to know if Hamas would be
willing to disarm and join the Middle East peace process.

"We told them that we would disarm the moment Israel withdraws from the
territories occupied in 1967," he said.

Al-Zahar said Hamas never initiated hostility towards the US despite the
latter's "brazen hostility to our people and excessive support of the Israeli
occupation".

Last week, Hamas' political chief, Khalid Mashaal, told Aljazeera unofficial
contacts between American and EU representatives and Hamas were increasing in
frequency, but that the US and EU wanted to keep the meetings confidential.

He added that Hamas did not make any concessions. "Our stand on the major
issues remain unchanged," he said.

Softer approach

On Sunday, reports suggested the Bush administration might be willing to ease
its erstwhile hardline approach.

According to foreign diplomats in Washington, the Bush administration was
being urged by the Europeans to show flexibility and to differentiate between
the extremist and moderate elements of Hamas.

"There is now a realisation that they do have a role to play. That if you can
bring them into the political fold, then you'll be marginalising the military
elements of those groups," a European diplomat said.

Other unnamed European diplomats were also quoted as saying that a strong
election showing by Hamas and a ceasefire deal could prompt reconsideration of
the EU's decision to put Hamas on its terrorist blacklist.

The EU put Hamas on the list in 2003 after heavy lobbying by the US and
Israel.

Mixed messages

Responding to European appeals to this effect, some American officials have
displayed ambivalence towards Hamas.

One unnamed senior administration official was quoted on Monday as saying that
"the administration might be willing to have contact with politicians
affiliated with the group".

In March, White House spokesman Scott McClellan was quoted as saying that
"there is a big difference between people who may be members of organisations
but are not terrorists, versus terrorists, people who have blood on their
hands".

Hamas leaders have consistently said they will be willing to forge a long-term
peace with Israel if the latter agrees to withdrawal from the West Bank, East
Jerusalem and the Gaza Strip.

Hamas said it could not formally recognise Israel for religious reasons.


Aljazeera