Israel Matzav

Hamas ready to negotiate - with the US

The Jerusalem Post is reporting that Hamas is 'ready to negotiate.' But not with Israel. Instead, Hamas wants to negotiate with the United States! This is what is being wishfully described in the international media as 'moderation' and I am sure that the Europeans will grab onto this straw to show how Hamas is trying to be 'reasonable'....

Exiled Hamas leader Khaled Mashaal said Monday that his organization was prepared to enter negotiations without preconditions with any international body including the United States, but not with the "Zionist enemy."

Speaking to the London based daily paper Al-Hayat Mashaal added that international authorities had, over the past few days, sent messages to Hamas saying that they would support projects carried out buy the Palestinian Authority, even with a Hamas-controlled PA [The sad thing is that this is probably true. CiJ]

In related news, top Hamas figures Mahmoud Zahar and Saed Siyam rejected on Sunday any possible peace negotiations with Israel.

Speaking in Amman, Jordan before parliament members from all over the Arab world, Zahar said that Israel was an enemy, and thus not a partner for negotiations, Israel Radio reported.

He added that Hamas did not plan to renew the failed diplomatic talks with Israel.

Acting Prime Minister Ehud Olmert told US Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs David Welch Sunday that there cannot be two Palestinian authorities, a "good one" that is represented by Abbas with which the international community wants to continue doing business, and a "bad one" represented by Hamas.

Hamas represents the PA, officials in Olmert's office quoted Olmert as telling Welch. He said that Hamas has a majority in the Palestinian parliament, the prime minister is from Hamas, and the government will be formed by Hamas.

This reminds me of the failed "Rogers Plan" of the first Nixon Administration, in which US Secretary of State Rogers proposed to have the four powers impose a solution on Israel to get around the Arabs' unwillingness to speak with or recognize the Jewish State. The more things change, the more they stay the same....

posted by Carl in Jerusalem @ 8:58 PM