[bitterlemons.org] Yossi Alpher - Some have called for opening a political dialogue with Hamas, but the obstacles are considerable. First of all, most Hamas leaders refuse to talk to Israelis, preferring to convey their demands via the media and third parties. Even were they to agree to meet and talk, their agenda is limited to a set of demands that are extremist compared to those discussed with the PLO. Moreover, the very act of talking to Hamas would violate a set of preconditions for engagement proffered by Israel and the Quartet: Hamas must first recognize the right of Israel to exist, abandon violence and accept all previous Palestinian-Israeli agreements. Israel can hardly abandon them unilaterally without coordinating with the Quartet. Doing so would also undermine the already weakened PLO with which Israel continues to negotiate along more reasonable lines.
2008-12-26 06:00:00Full ArticleBACK Visit the Daily Alert Archive