Hamas getting desperate?

The Strategy Page has an article titled "The Coming Arab Revolt " which talks about the Palestinian and Iraqi January elections. These elections seem to have rattled Hamas.

Hamas is a designated terrorist organization in the US and in the EU. Both claim not to hold discussions with Hamas. So why is Hamas claiming to have talks with both the US and the EU? The AFP theory is that Hamas is trying to gain some international legitimacy before the elections.

US denies contacts with Hamas

WASHINGTON (AFP) - The United States denied it had held contacts with Hamas as a leader of the radical Palestinian group has claimed.

"We don't conduct business with designated terrorist organisations. Hamas is a designated terrorist organisation," US State Department spokesman Richard Boucher told reporters.

"We are not aware of anything at all that would substantiate such a reference," he said in reference to an interview given by Hamas political bureau chief Khaled Meshaal to the BBC.

Notice how the French AFP down play Hamas as a terrorist organization and try and show Hamas as the victim.

Hamas is leading an armed struggle against Israel and has called for a boycott of the Palestinian election on January 9.

No they are not, they are leading a campaign of terror.

Then from the AP we learn,

"Hamas: We're Still in Contact With EU"

The EU says no we're not.

Cristina Gallach, spokeswoman for EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana, said there were no EU-Hamas meetings.
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