Israel Matzav

The first break in the wall against Hamas: Of course, it's the Fwench!

French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner (pictured) admitted today that he has been in contact with Hamas for 'months.' In a 'nuanced response' in a radio interview, Kouchner said that although the terror organization has shown 'some flexibility,' they are still not willing to recognize Israel's 'right to exist.'

Kouchner, speaking on Europe-1 radio, was confirming a report in the daily Le Figaro that quoted a retired diplomat as saying he met with Hamas leaders a month ago.

Hamas is considered a terrorist organization by the European Union and the United States.

France has had contacts with Hamas leaders "for several months," Kouchner said, adding that France was not in formal negotiations. "These are not relations, they are contacts. We must be able to talk if we want to play a role," the minister said.

A former ambassador to Iraq, Yves Aubin de la Messuziere, told Le Figaro that he had met a month ago in Gaza with Hamas leader Mahmoud Zahar and the organization's prime Minister, Ismael Haniyeh. Apparently, de la Messuziere was acting on behalf of the French government.

"They assured [me] that they were ready to accept a Palestinian state within the 1967 borders, which amounts to an indirect recognition of Israel," the diplomat was quoted as saying. [No, it doesn't. It means that they are ready to take what they can get now and then attack again in the future. Am I the only one who finds it amazing that someone who was an ambassador to an Arab Muslim country has never heard of - or pretends he has never heard of - the Treaty of Hudaybiyyah. CiJ]

"They said they were ready to stop suicide attacks and, what surprised me is that the Islamist leaders recognize the legitimacy of Mahmoud Abbas," de la Messuziere said. [Maybe they convinced this guy that Ismail Haniyeh is the Hidden Imam while they were at it. CiJ]

Kouchner, in the radio interview, had a nuanced response, saying that Hamas was "more flexible than before" but for the moment does not recognize the State of Israel.

Kouchner said the talks with Hamas were not held on a regular basis.

"We must try, but we must do so clearly and with [full knowledge] of our partners," Kouchner said. [Then how come he never told them and it had to come out through a leak months after it started? CiJ]

In June, during an official visit to Israel, French President Nicolas Sarkozy "will go to Palestine for several hours," the foreign minister said, adding that Sarkozy will not be meeting with Hamas. [He'll go where? Where is that? CiJ]

My opinion of Sarcozy just went through the floor. His only hope of rehabilitating himself is to fire the anti-Semitic Kouchner.

For those who have forgotten, Kouchner is the imbecile who said three months ago that Israel should not inspect trucks entering from Gaza because 'not all of them have bombs.' And least any of you think by his name that he is Jewish, Kouchner is the son of a Protestant mother and a Jewish father whose parents were murdered at Auschwitz.

His grandparents must be rolling over in their graves.

UPDATE 2:24 PM

This update comes from the alternate reality known as Israel's foreign ministry:

Israel on Monday played down France's announcement of contacts with Hamas.

Foreign Ministry spokesman Arye Mekel said Israel has received assurances from France that it continues to abide by policies set by the international community after Hamas won the Palestinian parliamentary elections two years ago.

Huh?

posted by Carl in Jerusalem @ 1:48 PM