McCain's Nightmare: Israel and France Have Been Holding Secret Talks With Hamas

Editor's Note:

Recently, President Bush spoke about defeating Hamas. The Republican presidential candidate, John McCain, threatened to be Hamas worst nightmare. Thus doing, the two Republican leaders wanted to sound as more Zionist than Israeli leaders themselves.

With these revelations today about secret talks between Hamas and Israel as well as Hamas and France, the Republican leaders have demonstrated that they are political dinosaurs, living in an ancient era, out of touch with what's going on around the world right now.

If Israelis want to reach an agreement with Hamas, where does this leave McCain and Bush who call for a permanent war around the world?

Is it not time for finding other issues of importance for the McCain campaign?

How about the issues that concern the American people most, such as the war-related $9.7 trillion national debt, health care, education, housing, gas prices, immigration, and fiscal responsibility?

Israeli leader admits Israel has been holding secret talks with Hamas

Monday May 19, 2008 21:10 by Saed Bannoura - IMEMC News

Israel’s Vice-Prime Minister, Haim Ramon, admitted Monday that the government of Israel has, for the last several weeks, been holding talks with the Hamas party, in contradiction with Israel’s stated policy of ‘isolating and attacking’ the elected Hamas-led government of the Palestinian people

The talks have focused on a negotiated release of the one Israeli soldier being held by Palestinian resistance groups, in exchange for some of the over-10,000 Palestinians (many of them civilians) being held in Israeli detention camps. In addition, Ramon stated that the Israeli government is attempting to pressure the Hamas government, elected to lead the Palestinian people during January 2006 legislative elections, to engage in a ceasefire with Israel.

Ramon heavily criticized the alleged talks, stating that when the Palestinian people elected the Hamas party, they turned the group from a ‘terror organization’ into a ‘terror nation called Hamas-stan’. Hamas long ago denounced attacks against civilians, and has not claimed credit for any of the latest homemade shells fired blindly from the Gaza Strip across the border with Israel.

In accordance with Ramon’s belief, the Israeli military has engaged in a massive military assault on the civilian population of the Palestinian occupied territories (the West Bank and Gaza Strip) since 2006. The Gaza Strip, in particular, has been placed under siege by the Israeli military and imprisoned without access to food, healthcare, work, imports or exports, or basic necessities for over two years.

Contrary to Ramon’s belief, however, there is no Palestinian nation, whether under Hamas control or not, as the Palestinian territories (the West bank and Gaza) remain under complete Israeli military control. The Palestinian government does not control land, air, sea, or borders, and the Israeli military arranges all permits, identity cards, passports, vehicle registration, hospital permits, taxes, and every other aspect of the Palestinian people’s life and livelihood.

Nevertheless, Ramon, speaking at a meeting of the Israeli party Kadima, stated that he hoped the Israeli government would soon take action to rid Israel of the presence of Hamas in the Gaza Strip.

France officially declares having talks with Hamas

[ 19/05/2008 - 07:10 PM ]

PARIS, (PIC)--

A French diplomat held talks with Hamas officials in Gaza a month ago breaking the American-imposed isolation on the Movement, a French newspaper revealed on Monday.

It said that the former French envoy to Iraq held talks with PA premier Ismail Haneyya and prominent Hamas leader Dr. Mahmoud Al-Zahhar.

For his part, French external affairs minister Bernard Kouchner told Europe-1 radio that it was important to have talks (with Hamas).

He said that if France wanted to play a role (in the Middle East) then it should have contacts with all parties.

Hamas: French contact reflects realisation of the movement's important role

[ 20/05/2008 - 11:20 AM ]

GAZA, (PIC)--

The Hamas Movement stated that the French contact with Hamas reflects the growing European realisation of the mistake of isolating and boycotting the Movement, pointing out that the goal of such contact is to explore the Movement's views about different issues.

French foreign minister Bernard Kouchner said that his country held during the past few months several meetings with Hamas leaders, adding that if France wants to play a role (in the Middle East) , it must be able to talk (with all parties).

Kouchner's remarks followed a report published by the Le Figaro newspaper saying that a former French diplomat met with Hamas leaders last month who told him that they are ready to accept a Palestinian state within 1967 borders.

The French step triggered the American administration's usual uproar which criticized the French contacts with Hamas and described it as "unwise".

Observers said that the French admission of being in contact with Hamas is an official announcement of the failure of the unjust political and economic siege imposed by Israel on a Palestinian movement that democratically gained popularity and influence in the Palestinian arena.

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