In a staff-ed about UK contacts with Hamas, The Guardian insinuates a darker reason for Israel’s objections, then suggests that Hamas statements may contain hidden messages of peace:
The suspicion must be that the real Israeli objections to Hamas are not that it is a terrorist organisation or that they do not trust its reformulations on Israel’s right to exist, although anxiety on both scores is understandable. If Ariel Sharon does not want a West Bank settlement worthy of the name he may see Hamas as the most formidable obstacle to imposing one that is manifestly unfair. That it would also constitute an excuse for refusing serious negotiations suggests that statements about Hamas will continue to need careful decoding.
Decoding? If actions speak louder than words, then Hamas’ rocket barrage yesterday makes a clear enough statement to Israeli targets and to Foreign Minister Jack Straw (pictured), who is now visiting the Mideast.
