Free Republic

Hamas may recognise Israel's right to exist By Tim Butcher in Gaza City (Filed: 26/05/2006) Signs of a breakthrough in the stand-off between the international community and Hamas emerged last night after the Islamist movement prepared to moderate its hostility towards Israel. While weeks of negotiations will be needed to confirm the policy shift, it raised the hope of a new era in the Middle East and even a return to peace negotiations aimed at ending decades of Israeli-Palestinian bloodshed. A masked gunman from the Al Aqsa Martyrs Brigades The shift came as Mahmoud Abbas, the moderate Palestinian president, sought...

Hint from Hamas that it might recognise Israel By Tim Butcher in Jerusalem and David Rennie in Brussels (Filed: 08/04/2006) The first indications that Hamas might recognise the right of Israel to exist emerged following intense diplomatic and economic pressure from the international community. A senior Hamas official said Ismail Haniyeh, the Hamas prime minister, would discuss the idea of a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict with Mahmoud Abbas, the moderate Palestinian president and Fatah leader. Ismail Haniyeh with Mahmoud Abbas in Gaza The European Commission yesterday announced a temporary halt in direct aid payments to the Hamas-controlled Palestinian...