Notwithstanding a 2006 decision to cut off all diplomatic contact with the Palestinian group, euobserver.com reveals that the European Union is now holding talks with Hamas. "We meet many leaders in France, Spain, Germany, Italy, the UK and Luxembourg," says Hamas member Ghazi Hamad, a spokesman for the Palestinian movement that has featured on the EU's list of terrorist organizations since 2003. "When they listen to us and we spend two hours with them, they understand the real image of Hamas". Hamad further alleges that European mediation, in particular the mediation of Germany, has been useful in organizing prisoner exchanges with Israel. "The EU is ready to end its diplomatic embargo if Hamas acknowledges Israel's right to exist, and pledges to abandon violence," notes euobserver.com.
Middle East
Secret talks with Hamas
15 September 2009
Presseurop
EUobserver.com 
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