France confirmed Monday that it had been engaged in contacts with the leaders of Hamas, the radical Islamic group that is running Gaza, for several months to try to better understand its positions.
“These are not relations; they are contacts,” Mr. Kouchner said on Europe 1 radio.
With who does one have contacts but no relations?
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Yisrael, it's not France, it is Israel who is having talks with Hamas. And its high time. I am glad some people still have enough good sense in them to try to find a pragmatic solution to the situation. I was surprised to see Zakai's name on the list: I know him not badly, having served under him in the army. You know what, he never stroke me as an "Arab lover". I am not sure what was the story with his early discharge. On the one hand under his command in Gaza punitive actions against Palestinian civilian population increased, on the other it looks like he was against some of these. Need to do some research (thinking out loud...)
Another point is I doubt France would have engaged in any contact with Hamas without Israeli approval. Sarkozy sucks up to Israel big time. Kouchner (a Jew) - I'm not sure what his deal is, but from what I read he has limited authority under Sarkozy, so, any unauthorized maverick initiative is unlikely.
Zakai is at it again!
Damn, I am impressed: in the land where almost no politician dares to say the obvious, it takes a tough, crazy golanchik to say this:
At heart, he says, "The state of Israel must understand that Hamas rule in Gaza is a fact, and it is with that government that we must reach a situation of calm."
Israel must also understand that Hamas is a pragmatic organization, Zakai continues. "The moment that the organization understands that Qassam fire is contrary to its interests, it will stop the fire.
And
In Zakai's view, Israel's central error during the tahadiyeh, the six-month period of relative truce that formally ended on Friday, was failing to take advantage of the calm to improve, rather than markedly worsen, the economic plight of the Palestinians of the Strip.
[...]
"We could have eased the siege over the Gaza Strip, in such a way that the Palestinians, Hamas, would understand that holding their fire served their interests. But when you create a tahadiyeh, and the economic pressure on the Strip continues, it's obvious that Hamas will try to reach an improved tahadiyeh, and that their way to achieve this, is resumed Qassam fire.
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