Dialogue with Hamas?

The independent web portal Rue89 comments on the international community's attitude to the Palestinian organisation Hamas: "Must one talk with Hamas? For a long time this question was taboo, but now it is on everyone's lips and provokes very different responses on either side of the Atlantic. ... After Hamas' election victory 18 months ago, the Middle East Quartet ... stipulated the conditions for dialogue with Hamas, in particular the renunciation of terrorist acts and the recognition of Israel. Since then, the official position has not changed. The result is that international aid to the Palestinians has slowed under Hamas control. ... This inflexible attitude has achieved absolutely nothing. It has done nothing to weaken Hamas' position in the Gaza Strip, nor has it strengthened ... the hand of the Palestinians or Fatah President Mahmoud Abbas. It has also failed to prevent the military situation between Gaza and Israel from escalating once again. There is still no cause for optimism in this disaster area."

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