Israel Matzav

When the cat's away the mice will play

While everyone else is busy dealing with the Winograd Commission interim report and trying to oust Israeli Prime Minister Ehud K. Olmert, the damage to Israel continues as a group of EU parliamentarians met today in Gaza with 'moderate' 'Palestinian Prime Minister' Ismail Haniyeh and called for an end to the boycott of Hamas. It looks like EU recognition of the 'unity government' may be just around the corner:

The visiting European parliamentary representatives countered that talking with Hamas-affiliated members of the PA government was important.

"Our visit here is very symbolic," said Kyriacos Triantaphyllides from Cyprus. The EU "has a need to deal with this government, because we consider this an opportunity for the road to peace."

Caroline Lucas, an EU parliamentarian from England, said member states and the European Commission "put us under pressure not to do it."

"But we were united in the belief that we have called Palestinians to respect democracy," she said, "and so it's somewhat perverse not to recognize (the government)." Hamas won a parliamentary election in January, 2006.

Triantaphyllides said the West should recognize the new PA government and resume aid.

"The opportunity of a government of national unity...should not be missed. We are of the opinion that the financial embargo should be lifted," he said at a news conference with Haniyeh.

Useful idiots.

posted by Carl in Jerusalem @ 2:17 AM