Former Peace Negotiators Call for End to Hamas Boycott

[bemildred]

In an open letter obtained by SPIEGEL ONLINE, 14 former peace negotiators call on the Mideast Quartet to include Hamas in talks. The signatories include former Israeli Foreign Minister Ben-Ami and the UN's former envoy to the Middle East Quartet. All agree a peace settlement "without Hamas will not be possible."

They were part of the peace settlements in Cambodia, Somalia and Bosnia, they negotiated with militant groups like the Tamil Tigers in Sri Lanka or the IRA in Northern Ireland and a few of them were also engaged in the Middle East peace process. Fourteen elder statesmen from Europe, Australia, South America, Africa and Asia are calling in an open letter for the Mideast Quartet, comprised of the European Union, United Nations, Russia and the United States, to end their diplomatic boycott against Hamas.

The signatories of the letter, which is being published exclusively by SPIEGEL ONLINE in Germany and the Times of London on Thursday, include former Israeli Foreign Minister Shlomo Ben-Ami; Alvaro de Soto, who served as the UN envoy for the Middle East Quartet from 2005 to 2007; Lord Chris Patten, the former British governor of Hong Kong and European Commissioner; and Lord Paddy Ashdown, who served as the High Representative for Bosnia-Herzegovina and oversaw the implementation of the Dayton Accords.

"The latest and bloodiest conflict between Israel and Hamas has demonstrated that the policy of isolating Hamas cannot bring stability," the letter states. "We have learnt first-hand that there is no substitute for direct and sustained negotiations with all parties to a conflict, and rarely if ever a durable peace without them."

http://www.spiegel.de/international/world/0,1518,609945,00.html#ref=rss

[shira]

1. so tell me again, why should Hamas change and renounce their hatred and warmongering?

[bemildred]

2. Is this some sort of trick question? nt

[shira]

3. nope

negotiate with, aid and support, and do not hold Hamas to any standards.....why should Hamas change? Hate, terror, bullying Palestinians, and warmongering is working for them. They're getting what they want. Now why should they change?

[azurnoir]

4. Did you read the article?

The document also states that the conditions that the Quartet has placed on Hamas "set an unworkable threshold from which to commence negotiations." To get to the negotiating table, the letter says that Hamas must first "halt all violence," which could in turn help the factionalized Palestinians come together once again. Doing so, according to the letter, is "a vital condition for meaningful negotiations for Israel."

recognition would come as part of negotiations, just like it did for the PLO.

[bemildred]

7. So you think the present situation is as good as it gets for Hamas?

Any change is bad for Hamas? Then why do they want to negotiate? If there is no incentive for them to change, why do they want to negotiate various changes?

[LeftishBrit]

5. Why should the IRA have done so?

I have my own suspicions that Hamas may boycott the talks, even if they are invited. But I think that everyone should be invited. Being involved in negotiations isn't a reward for good behaviour; it's part of any peace process.

[azurnoir]

8. Hamas and the Fatah are currently in reunification talks

in Egypt.

[azurnoir]

6. Palestinian groups agree releases

Senior members of Hamas and Fatah, the main rival Palestinian factions, have agreed to release each other's members from detention.

Hamas has lifted house arrest on some Fatah members in the Gaza Strip while Fatah has released about 80 - out of a total 380 held - Hamas members.

"A certain number of detainees will be freed right at the beginning of the dialogue," said a statement from Azzam al-Ahmed, leader of the Fatah bloc in the Palestinian parliament, and Mahmoud Zahar, a senior Hamas official, referring to the talks about to start in Egypt.

The two sides also promised to stop media attacks against each other.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/7911662.stm