Straw: No talks with Hamas
Foreign Secretary Jack Straw has insisted that he will not be talking directly with any members of the militant Palestine group Hamas.
Speaking at a press conference in Israel, Mr Straw was forced to clarify his stance on the controversial Palestinian group following pressure from the Israeli government.
Hamas, an Islamic Palestinian organisation, runs mosques, schools and social programmes, but also has a military wing that carries out suicide bombings against Israelis, and it is on the European Union’s list of banned organisations.
Mr Straw earlier told Today that British diplomats had met with elected officials from Hamas’ non-military wing before, but that that was merely to reinforce the British position on non-communication with a militant group.
“On each of those occasions our staff have spelt out to the elected official … our position overall in respect of no dealings with Hamas as an organisation as long as it continues to support violence,” he added.
In Israel Mr Straw stressed his anti-terrorist credentials, saying that when he was Home Secretary he introduced the legislation that allowed him to ban contact with Hamas and other such groups.
He had also led the way in pushing for European Union sanctions and was always ready to strengthen those sanctions.
He condemned today’s rocket attack as an illustration of the “wanton, rampant terror” employed by terrorist organisations to undermine Israel’s peace and security and the leadership of the Palestinian Authority.
“We will have no dealings with the leadership of Hamas and other such organisations unless and until they wholly renounce violence,” he said.
Hamas would also have to give up its opposition to the existence of an Israeli state, he added.
Also in the press conference, the Foreign Secretary said he applauded the “courage” shown by Israeli prime minister Ariel Sharon and his government in deciding to withdraw from the Gaza Strip. That decision was a key step in the process towards a two-state solution to the Middle East conflict, he added.
Mr Straw is in the Middle East today for the first time since last November as he embarks on two-day talks with Israeli and Palestinian officials.
The Foreign Secretary’s trip comes as Prime Minister Tony Blair is in the US for discussions with US President George Bush, where the roadmap to peace in the Middle East is expected to be on the agenda.
He will call on Israeli prime minister Ariel Sharon and foreign minister Silvan Shalom, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office has confirmed.
He will then travel to Palestine, where he will meet president of the Palestinian Authority Mahmoud Abbas, prime minister Ahmed Qurei and foreign minister Nasir Al Qudaw.
