Posted on 04/01/2006 8:27:11 AM PST by Starman417
LONDON - Former US president Bill Clinton told BBC television on Friday that he would shake hands with Hamas if they provided the same assurances on rejecting terror as the late Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat.
Clinton spoke as the US State Department announced that the United States had suspended all contact with the Palestinian government led by Hamas, who won an overwhelming victory in the Palestinian general election in January.
Clinton, whose eight-year presidency ended in 2001, said he would be prepared to support dealing with the Islamist group if they agreed to negotiate and turn their backs on terrorism.
The United States, European Union and Israel all regard Hamas as a terrorist organisation, given its track record of suicide bombings and its refusal to recognise Israel’s right to exist.
Asked if he would shake hands with Hamas in the name of negotiation as he did with Arafat in 1993, Clinton said: “If they made the same assurances that Arafat did.
“He had made private assurances, and he made public assurances, that he did not support terror any more and would try to restrain it.
“So if Hamas would say, suppose they say, OK, look, we can’t change our theory, we can’t change our document, we can’t change our history, but we’re in government now and the policy of the Palestinian government is no to terror and yes to negotiations. As long as we’re in government, we’ll honour that policy.
“If they did that, I would support dealing with them.”
Former US president Bill Clinton told BBC television on Friday that he would shake hands with Hamas if they provided the same assurances on rejecting terror as the late Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat.
I believe he already did, his wife too!
Liberals are nuts. That includes Klinton.
Rather than wait for Hamas to show us for a few years that they have indeed gone the peaceful route, Klinton is ready to accept their 'word', just like he did in North Korea.
And, dictators and terrorists all over the world know that when it comes to leftists (libs) all you need to do is promise them you will be good.
Arrafat rejected terrorism? LMAO! He practically invented it.
I'd rather shake Hamas' hand than either Clinton's.
Hmm, on second thought, maybe they might. A lot of those Arab guys are so gay.....
Well I never...
For once I think he's telling the truth.
This person thinks he's a statesman. No, he's a mental cripple.
There's so much wrong with this sentence I scarcely know where to begin....
Only a matter of time before the leaders of Hamas get a Nobel Peace Prize....
He may have to wash the blood off after.
Yes, and OJ is still looking for Nicole's killer...
My thunder stolen again!LOL!
Billy bob is a whore
He'd shake hands or say anything to please the crowd he's in front of, for a fee.
And he's be really willing to accept campaign donations on behalf of his wife - sob, pos - will we ever be rid of the Clintons?
Bill shook hands with the Devil long ago, everything since is just keeping in practice.
...is this the Democratic strategy for protecting the US????
He'd shake hands with the devil. Might even go further than that for all we know.
Venerial disease has finally eaten Clinton's last brain cell. I think it's time they lock him away in a padded room. Him and Jimmah Cahtah can play tiddly winks together.
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