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Hamas contacts with Israelis for Gaza services hypocritical
munaeem | 02 July, 2007 11:00
A commentary in another London-based daily, Asharq Al Awsat, opined that while Abbas sitting by Olmert in Sharm El Sheikh was "embarrassing," the truly "scandalous scene" would be if Hamas representatives met with Israeli officials to negotiate on the provision of electricity, water, and gas services to the Gaza Strip.
It claimed that while the Islamist movement had blasted Abbas for dealing with Israel and refusing to negotiate with Hamas, the Islamic group, itself, had begun contacting Israeli officials to seek necessary services for the Gaza Strip, as if its contacts for services were not similar to political contacts.
"Contacting Israel, and [having dealings] with it is, in reality, the same thing," it argued, adding that "Hamas' negotiations with Israelis for services help the Jewish state's objective, which has, for a long time, said it was ready to discuss with 'Palestinian citizens' their domestic needs, [but] refuses to recognize their political rights."
By contacting the Israeli authorities, it stressed, Hamas was effectively recognizing Israel, following the Islamic group's toppling of the Palestinian Authority in Gaza.
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