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Last update - 15:58 11/11/2008
Report: Hamas says its officials met Obama aides before U.S. election
By Avi Issacharoff, Haaretz Correspondent
Tags: Israel News, Hamas 

The Arab daily Al-Hayat on Tuesday quoted a senior Hamas official as saying that United States President-elect Barack Obama's advisors met with members of the Palestinian militant group before the U.S. presidential election.

Ahmed Yusuf, a political advisor to Hamas' Gaza leader Ismail Haniyeh, reportedly told the London-based paper that, "The connection was made via email and after that we met with them in Gaza."

Al-Hayat reported that Yusuf also said the relations were maintained after Obama's electoral victory last Tuesday. He said the president-elect's advisors requested that the relations be kept secret so as not to aid his rival, Senator John McCain.
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During Obama's campaign, he pledged that his administration would only hold talks with Hamas if it renounced terrorism, recognized Israel's right to exist, and abided by past agreements.

On Saturday, Hamas political bureau chief Khaled Meshal told Sky News that he is willing to hold talks with Obama, and that he is challenging the newly elected leader to follow through on past statements indicating a willingness to sit down with America's chief adversaries on the world stage.


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      1.   2-STATE-SOLUTION GOING DOWN THE DRAIN!HOLYLAND MUST REMAIN JEWISH 11:09  |  VOICE of MOSHIACH))) 11/11/08
      2.   if hamas is telling the truth 11:18  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 11/11/08
      3.   Hamas and Obama 11:39  |  Dik 11/11/08
      4.   This would explain 11:43  |  Chris Linthwaite 11/11/08
      5.   It is going to happen 12:01  |  Keith T. 11/11/08
      6.   HAMAS-terrorists are are liars. Where are names of Americans? 12:01  |  Vittorio 11/11/08
      7.   For the sake of peace GB must disappear,it`ll 12:03  |  Absolute Sweden 11/11/08
      8.   to #4 12:06  |  yosi 11/11/08
      9.   then obama is a liar 12:07  |  Charlie 11/11/08
      10.   No more 4 years! thank u Hamas teerorists, u just blew it! 12:10  |  byebyeObama liar! 11/11/08
      11.   To #2 12:12  |  G. Kolotov 11/11/08
      12.   To #4 - a 2 state solution 12:15  |  G. Kolotov 11/11/08
      13.   Please give us more news from this reliable source 12:17  |  Stuart Wilder 11/11/08
      14.   LINTHWAITE MESHAL said what?? 12:18  |  PETER SM 11/11/08
      15.   B. Hussein Osama a filthy liar! 12:19  |  TERROR victim 11/11/08
      16.   "not to aid Senator John McCain"? 12:22  |  Correct 11/11/08
      17.   #11, G. Kolotov 12:26  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 11/11/08
      18.   #14 Peter SM 12:27  |  Chris Linthwaite 11/11/08
      19.   Chris Linthwaite 12:27  |  17 11/11/08
      20.   They offered to Obama help, economic advice, also dollars,clues, 12:34  |  Israeli citizen 11/11/08
      21.   extraordinary news 12:43  |  the ant queen 11/11/08
      22.   Believe Hamas 12:52  |  Even Steven 11/11/08
      23.   easy if you misrepresent yourself 12:57  |  jo 11/11/08
      24.   why is Obama a liar? 13:00  |  arab 11/11/08
      25.   Having a laugh at the Usual Suspects 13:04  |  Johnboy 11/11/08
      26.   #21 the ant queen 13:04  |  Chris Linthwaite 11/11/08
      27.   Respond to Number 4 &5 13:07  |  Dani 11/11/08
      28.   Hamas playing games - there is nothing left for them 13:09  |  17 11/11/08
      29.   Obama first lie. 13:13  |  Ralph 11/11/08
      30.   Barack Obama or talking is only regarded as a "sin".... 13:15  |  Swiss (Dino) 11/11/08
      31.   LINTHWAITE You claim recognised.Read your own "source" 13:20  |  PETER SM 11/11/08
      32.   #4 Chris .... you are blind 13:27  |  Kobi 11/11/08
      33.   hopefully this IS true! 13:27  |  samos 11/11/08
      34.   Chris Linthwaite 13:27  |  17 11/11/08
      35.   YES to 2 States ... Israel & Jordan 13:28  |  Rafi 11/11/08
      36.   Obama`s statement on meeting Hamas 13:32  |  Sammy 11/11/08
      37.   17 13:32  |  Chris Linthwaite 11/11/08
      38.   Paleeeze! 13:34  |  Jane 11/11/08
      39.   Great 13:37  |  Steve 11/11/08
      40.   There are already two states 13:40  |  Jack 11/11/08
      41.   Clueless Lintwit: impaired comprehension skills 13:41  |  Free Gilad Shalit 11/11/08
      42.   the statement was an "enduring cease-fire" 13:41  |  samos 11/11/08
      43.   Did (lying) Obama commit a felony? 13:45  |  Free Gilad Shalit 11/11/08
      44.   Obama slams Carter for meeting w/ Hamas 13:48  |  Free Gilad Shalit 11/11/08
      45.   Old issue, aid resigned 13:50  |  Ansel 11/11/08
      46.   Obama & Hamas 13:51  |  Kacey Mathew 11/11/08
      47.   #4 Meshal did NOT recognize Israel! 14:00  |  Martin 11/11/08
      48.   you can trust Hamas blood thirsty killers... 14:11  |  Avi 11/11/08
      49.   # 24 Arab from Dubai 14:21  |  Dik 11/11/08
      50.   I say, well done Hamas 14:21  |  Natallie Durson 11/11/08
      51.   #41 The point is 14:40  |  Chris Linthwaite 11/11/08
      52.   #47 Martin 14:42  |  Chris Linthwaite 11/11/08
      53.   I PRAY IT`S TRUE 14:52  |  Alex Goldfarb 11/11/08
      54.   CJK #2 False Logic alert!!! 14:59  |  Roo 11/11/08
      55.   HANIYAH made comments, not Mashal! 15:00  |  Free Gilad Shalit 11/11/08
      56.   We only have Hamas` word to go on 15:02  |  Realist 11/11/08
      57.   No Kidding That is Why I voted McCain 15:07  |  Ralph Levy 11/11/08
      58.   Obama is not a friend of Israel 15:19  |  Karen Solomon 11/11/08
      59.   QUITE PROMISING SIGN FROM OBAMA 15:21  |  indrajaya 11/11/08
      60.   Who knows, maybe the "dovish" Hamas statements.... 15:23  |  Swiss (Dino) 11/11/08
      61.   #37: Chris Linthwait, stop splitting words, here is truth 15:24  |  DOC HOLLIDAY 11/11/08
      62.   SAMOS what is your problem with "peace"? 15:26  |  PETER SM 11/11/08
      63.   #2 CJK....the idiot Powers 15:27  |  Lynn 11/11/08
      64.   #10 Already dropped, down yesterday 15:32  |  Lynn 11/11/08
      65.   Hamas` fantasy 15:38  |  Brod 11/11/08
      66.   #61 Doc Holliday 15:43  |  Chris Linthwaite 11/11/08
      67.   Believe This? Then Buy My Seashore Property in Illinois! 15:45  |  Peter 11/11/08
      68.   #46 Kacey Mathew 15:48  |  David Zukerman 11/11/08
      69.   Obama 15:59  |  Leslie 11/11/08
      70.   Hamas show me the E-mail! 16:01  |  Peter 11/11/08
      71.   obama`s nomination of rahm emmanuel good for israel 16:15  |  mikhail lev 11/11/08
      72.   These clowns... 16:18  |  ScotGuy 11/11/08
      73.   Believe This? Then Buy My Seashore Property in Illinois! 16:26  |  Mark Lincoln 11/11/08
      74.   #38 Jane......it was Malley going to Gaza and 16:34  |  Lynn 11/11/08
      75.   # 70, PETER 16:37  |  indrajaya 11/11/08
      76.   Jane I hear you 16:41  |  Mark Lincoln 11/11/08
      77.   Hamas & Obama 16:43  |  Kenneth Binkley 11/11/08
      78.   2 No Cipora. Under no circumstances is Obama a liar... 16:43  |  bat yam 11/11/08
      79.   amusing truths 16:46  |  Sameer 11/11/08
      80.   Even if this were true... 16:50  |  ScotGuy 11/11/08
      81.   it has been said we are all only 4 people 16:51  |  away from 11/11/08
      82.   #66 Linthwaite...the US will not drag any 16:55  |  Lynn 11/11/08
      83.   if i post here and speek to you and post on hamas 16:57  |  website 11/11/08
      84.   Obama aids met with Hamas 16:57  |  Maurice 11/11/08
      85.   #78 Six degrees of seperation 16:58  |  Lynn 11/11/08
      86.   i speak to everyone and hamas doesn`t scare me 17:00  |  nice people 11/11/08
      87.   nice people those Hamas their Charter doesn`t scare me...much 17:04  |  nicer 11/11/08
      88.   the only isolated people in the world are those that 17:08  |  refuse to speak 11/11/08
      89.   everyone should talk to everyone and most importantly 17:10  |  listen 11/11/08
      90.   Maurice #84 17:13  |  Jasper 11/11/08
      91.   well `nicer` you ought to speak to them about that 17:13  |  here 11/11/08
      92.   K.I.S.S. protocols. 17:30  |  Charles Smyth 11/11/08
      93.   86,87 "nice people" and "nicer":Terrorists don`t deserve a speach 17:41  |  the most nice people 11/11/08
      94.   Charles Smyth is freom the `scream at them and 17:42  |  them`school 11/11/08
      95.   I think what Hamas meant was . . . 17:45  |  Joe 11/11/08
      96.   `the most nice people` iis not nice nor has it a clue 17:49  |  about what others 11/11/08
      97.   Joe ? a well informed man speaks and listens 18:00  |  to all others 11/11/08
      98.   Hamas & Obama 18:01  |  mark21 11/11/08
      99.   Congratulations Lynn 18:02  |  Mark Lincoln 11/11/08
      100.   #82 Lynn 18:04  |  Chris Linthwaite 11/11/08
      101.   #24 Arab in Dubai; first when Abbas from his hurt feelings starts 18:05  |  Alicia 11/11/08
      102.   GREAT but understandably discrete 18:05  |  Gray 11/11/08
      103.   it iss a much smaller world than isolationist 18:06  |  imagine 11/11/08
      104.   What Hamas - and this article - didn`t say 18:12  |  Mark Lincoln 11/11/08
      105.   What is Hamas going to negociate about-they dont recognize Israel 18:18  |  Alan SA 11/11/08
      106.   #82 Hey Lynn, is that so? 18:31  |  ballistic 11/11/08
      107.   mikhail lev; So Much For "Dual" Loyalty.... 18:36  |  Gray 11/11/08
      108.   #100 Chris 18:37  |  ballistic 11/11/08
      109.   fine Alan SA! you dont recognize hamas 18:42  |  go talk to them 11/11/08
      110.   OBAMA is our hope for peace and dignity 18:48  |  S.Awaad 11/11/08
      111.   Let`s mark this day with red ink 18:52  |  Axel 11/11/08
      112.   Highly unlikely--I doubt this really happened 18:55  |  Tarik 11/11/08
      113.   A point of clarification from previous post 18:58  |  Tarik 11/11/08
      114.   Political death sentance 19:03  |  Dr Noam 11/11/08
      115.   Lucky we got Obama 19:05  |  James Ryan 11/11/08
      116.   #104 Mark Lincoln 19:06  |  mike 11/11/08
      117.   Let`s hope it is true. 19:09  |  Haim 11/11/08
      118.   Americans acted like they voted for the winner of American Idol 19:10  |  Kipperraes 11/11/08
      119.   To Mr.Haim 19:24  |  S.Awaad 11/11/08
      120.   grounds for impeachment 19:26  |  vik 11/11/08
      121.   Hamas` Al Aqsa TV "tomorrow`s pioneers" 19:34  |  Howard 11/11/08
      122.   CJK # 2 so, what is your point? 19:43  |  American in NY 11/11/08
      123.   Two State Tango 19:54  |  Brad 11/11/08
      124.   vik? Rachealk Cory was an american run over by an isreali 20:00  |  catapilar 11/11/08
      125.   a little known fact is Racheal Cory was also a Jew 20:02  |  did you know that? 11/11/08
      126.   #120 Vik, "impeachment"???? 20:03  |  mike 11/11/08
      127.   # 37 Chris Linthwaite 20:06  |  17 11/11/08
      128.   To: vic in New York 20:11  |  Timmy in Florida 11/11/08
      129.   #100 Linthwaite.....I am FOR a two state solution 20:26  |  Lynn 11/11/08
      130.   Brad; Please see for yourself.... 20:30  |  Gray 11/11/08
      131.   #110 S Awaad...then why is Hamas 20:30  |  Lynn 11/11/08
      132.   the ant queen 21 20:30  |  strange 11/11/08
      133.   `17`? a 10 yr truce would give you and them an opportunity 20:30  |  to talk peacefully 11/11/08
      134.   James Ryan; Thanks, We`re trying.... 20:49  |  Gray 11/11/08
      135.   meshal willing to hold talks means none yet get it? 20:51  |  strange 11/11/08
      136.   to talk 133 you see hamas changing? 20:53  |  strange 11/11/08
      137.   indrajaya 59 clinton`s not here so tell us about aipac 20:56  |  strange 11/11/08
      138.   Well, It`s Possible But Unlikely 21:03  |  Jeff Northridge 11/11/08
      139.   grey 130 what percentage were jews in europe in1922 21:04  |  strange 11/11/08
      140.   to all others 97 send hamas our regards and tell them 21:14  |  strange 11/11/08
      141.   Would that be Robert Malley, still an Obama adviser? 21:17  |  Joe Camel 11/11/08
      142.   Remember, we are dealing with M.E. politics. 21:19  |  Stephen. 11/11/08
      143.   #115 Noam 21:20  |  mike 11/11/08
      144.   To the teen talking about Hamas Tv 21:28  |  Nek 11/11/08
      145.   gray 134 you mean fritz hollings who supported segrgation 21:30  |  strange 11/11/08
      146.   130 Gray 21:51  |  Brad 11/11/08
      147.   Four State Fandango 22:22  |  Brad 11/11/08
      148.   #141, Stephen 22:22  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 11/11/08
      149.   #142 Cipora 22:37  |  mike 11/11/08
      150.   cipora 142 IF it`s true it`s still ok hamas bad talk good 22:37  |  strange 11/11/08
      151.   chris 100 if you`re waiting for 22:41  |  strange 11/11/08
      152.   nek 144 if you`re talking about 121 you better 22:55  |  strange 11/11/08
      153.   #144 Nek 23:15  |  Howard 11/11/08
      154.   # 130 Gray 23:16  |  17 11/11/08
      155.   Cipora Julianna Kohn P1 23:17  |  TonyL 11/11/08
      156.   Cipora Julianna Kohn P2 23:23  |  TonyL 11/11/08
      157.   # 142 Mike - Very Impressive. New achievemnts of Jews - 23:32  |  17 11/11/08
      158.   Lynn #131 hamas boycott. 23:32  |  oetis 11/11/08
      159.   Long live the Palestinian people 23:34  |  JH 11/11/08
      160.   Haaretz too easy! Why not ring Obama`s media people? 23:37  |  PETER SM 11/11/08
      161.   OFFICIAL DENIAL BY OBAMA`s Aid 23:55  |  Yona 11/11/08
      162.   Obama is surrounded by strong Jewish pro Israel advisors. 00:05  |  Sarah 12/11/08
      163.   #160 Peter SM 00:29  |  mike 12/11/08
      164.   # 111, AXEL 00:30  |  indrajaya 12/11/08
      165.   #161 Sarah, how do you know? 00:31  |  mike 12/11/08
      166.   Most likely a vast storm-in-a-teacup... 00:32  |  Esther 12/11/08
      167.   #157 17 00:36  |  mike 12/11/08
      168.   Read the J.Post --Hamas Lied! 00:56  |  Steve 12/11/08
      169.   Obama...Obama...do you know the truth when you hear it.? 01:36  |  Connie 12/11/08
      170.   # 2 & 9 if hamas is telling the truth 01:44  |  JoJo 12/11/08
      171.   How did the advisors get into Gaza so easily? 01:50  |  Morris Valentine 12/11/08
      172.   Does not add up, but why? 02:04  |  Eric Wilson 12/11/08
      173.   mike you have a problem with seperating fact from fiction? 02:37  |  PETER SM 12/11/08
      174.   # 167 mike - I read your text - it is not related at all to my 02:44  |  17 12/11/08
      175.   # 165 mike 02:54  |  17 12/11/08
      176.   #158 oetis....yeah, right 03:10  |  Lynn 12/11/08
      177.   #120 Impeachment 03:16  |  Liehana 12/11/08
      178.   Resolution of Israeli-Palestinian conflict 03:44  |  Wellwisher 12/11/08
      179.   `strange" and "17": Subsidized Hasbara Trolls, By The handbook 03:52  |  Gray 12/11/08
      180.   Hamas Government says no secret talks 04:17  |  zaz 12/11/08
      181.   Does Obama have a mandate? 04:18  |  ben 12/11/08
      182.   Source for 11% In Fomer British Palestine 04:31  |  Gray 12/11/08
      183.   I wonder if the delegates were.... 04:54  |  Peter Williams 12/11/08
      184.   The news that came from an Arabic newspaper 05:09  |  Akram Zekaria 12/11/08
      185.   Gray - No hasbara, my friend. You happen not to know 05:10  |  17 12/11/08
      186.   hamas has denied the report...says they have not spoken 05:11  |  to obama yet 12/11/08
      187.   Gray`s Rebuttals 05:32  |  Golani 12/11/08
      188.   Source for Grays 11% 05:43  |  Golani 12/11/08
      189.   Has anyone considered .... 06:22  |  Bart 12/11/08
      190.   When all is said and done, HAMAS crowing amounts to little 06:41  |  Jacob Blues 12/11/08
      191.   Lynn #176 16:36  |  oetis 12/11/08
      192.   #173 Peter SM 18:04  |  mike 12/11/08
      193.   Hussein is indeed a liar 02:07  |  ObamaGoToHell 13/11/08
      194.   Report: Hamas says its officials met Obama aides before U.S. elec 19:04  |  Annie 13/11/08
      195.   At Last The Truth 19:16  |  Annie 13/11/08
      196.   One State Two State 02:04  |  Ezma 14/11/08
      197.   tick-tick-tick-tick-tick-tick.......................... 05:41  |  sam 14/11/08
      198.   #197 Sam - It`s been ticking since `29 12:24  |  * BEN JABO 14/11/08
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