PRESS RELEASE IKV Pax Christi: Talking with Hamas

Utrecht, 8 January 2009

No sustainable political solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is possible without Hamas. That is one conclusion in "Talking to Hamas: On Isolation and Its Failure" a report by peace organisation IKV Pax Christi.

"The political boycott of Hamas has failed", peace organisation IKV Pax Christi notes. It has served neither the Palestinians' national aspirations nor Israel's desire for security. This strategy has left in tatters the credibility of Quartet's pursuit of peace. (The Quartet is made up of the EU, Russia, the UN and the USA.)

"The presupposition that peace talks can achieve a good result when Hamas is left out is pure fantasy", notes Jan Gruiters of IKV Pax Christi. "Isolating Hamas has reinforced its radical tendencies while weakening President Abbas. Recognition of Israel and renunciation of violence must be the results of, not the prerequisites for, political dialogue with Hamas".

Like most other EU countries, the Netherlands is a proponent of Hamas' political and diplomatic isolation. Yet, this isolation has done nothing to bring about a political solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

In its report, which was written prior to incursion into Gaza, IKV Pax Christi examines various scenarios for Hamas' continued isolation, including 'more violence in Gaza', of the type now taking place. None of these scenarios leads to peace or to more security for the Israeli population. The report is based on credible sources including leading experts like Graham Fuller (ex-CIA), Efraim Halevy (ex-Mossad).

The report does not justify Hamas' strategy. IKV Pax Christi calls the shelling carried out by Palestinian extremists a contravention of international humanitarian law. Still, IKV Pax Christi calls on the international community, the EU and the Dutch government to reassess the political isolation of Hamas. Hamas must be influenced, not isolated.

An immediate and permanent ceasefire, the opening of border crossings and the raising of the blockade to admit humanitarian aid are only possible when Hamas is admitted to the political process. That is why the international community must support Arab countries' attempts to reconcile Fatah and Hamas and why it must shatter the taboo against dialogue with Hamas. These acts are also for Israel's benefit.


Note for the press
Download the report on www.ikvpaxchristi.nl/uk.
For more information please contact Helma Maas, IKV Pax Christi's press officer at +31 06 48.98.14.88 or consult our website.


IKV Pax Christi works for peace, reconciliation and justice in the world. We join with people in conflict areas to work on a peaceful and democratic society. We enlist the aid of people in the Netherlands who, like IKV Pax Christi, want to work for political solutions to crises and armed conflicts. IKV Pax Christi combines knowledge, energy and people to attain one single objective: there must be peace!