Subscribe to Print Edition | Sun., February 15, 2009 Shvat 21, 5769 | | Israel Time: 17:53 (EST+7)
Haaretz israel news English
web haaretz.com
Haaretz Toolbar
Diplomacy
Defense Jewish World Opinion National
Print Edition
Car Rental
Books Haaretz Magazine Business Real Estate Joy of Giving Travel Week's End Anglo File
Comments:  68
Last update - 23:24 20/01/2009
France may talk to Hamas even if group doesn't recognize Israel
By Assaf Uni, Haaretz Correspondent
Tags: Israel News, Gaza, IDF, Hamas

France signalled on Tuesday that it might be prepared to hold talks with Hamas even if the Palestinian Islamist group does not recognize Israel as Paris and other Western powers have demanded for years.

The "Quartet" of Middle East mediators - the United States, the European Union, the United Nations and Russia - has said there can be no dealings with Hamas until it recognises Israel, renounces violence and accepts existing interim peace deals.

French Foreign Ministry spokesman Eric Chevallier, however, said that renouncing violence was the most important of those three conditions, an apparent shift in France's position.
Advertisement
"We repeat that the elements of the Quartet have been defined. There is obviously an absolutely major element, which is renouncing violence," Chevallier told a news conference.

When asked if France was scrapping the recognition of Israel as a precondition, he said: "I did not say that it was not a precondition" but repeated his phrase suggesting that renouncing violence was more important than the other conditions.

Hamas seized control of Gaza from the Fatah forces of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas in 2007 after winning an election the year before.

Israel and the West boycotted governments led by Hamas because the group rejects Israel's right to exist.

Abbas, whose Fatah faction controls the West Bank, has called for a Palestinian national unity government to pave the way for elections after Israel's 22-day military offensive in Gaza, which killed more than 1,300 people.

Chevallier said France was prepared to work with a Palestinian national unity government.

"We are ready to work with a national unity government that will respect the principles of the peace process and commit itself to negotiations with Israel to obtain the creation of a Palestinian state living side by side with Israel in peace and security," Chevallier said.

His comments followed remarks by UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon in which Ban said the United Nations could work with any united Palestinian government to rebuild the Gaza Strip.


Sarkozy to host global summit on Mideast peace


French President Nicholas Sarkozy plans to host in the coming months an international conference in Paris to advance stalled Israeli-Palestinian peace talks, the French daily Le Figaro reported Tuesday.

Sarkozy seeks to capitalize on the momentum created by the participation of European leaders at a summit Sunday in Sharm al-Sheikh summit on the recent hostilities in Gaza, according to Le Figaro.

The paper also states that Sarkozy convinced German Chancellor Angela Merkel and British Prime Minister Gordon Brown, who had feared the cease-fire would not be kept, to attend the summit in Egypt.


The goal of the conference, the paper reported, is to reach a peace accord within a year, and it will be held a few weeks after a meeting of European foreign ministers in Egypt due to take place in February.

The form of the summit will reportedly be similar to that of the one the United States hosted in Annapolis in late 2007.

About 40 countries participated in the U.S. conference, including Saudi Arabia, Syria and Indonesia.


Related articles:
  • David Grossman / Israel's success in Gaza only proves it is strong, not right
  • Top IDF officer defends Israel's actions in Gaza, says Hamas was defeated
  • Report: Hamas leader admits surprise at IDF use of force in Gaza
    • Bookmark to del.icio.us  
     
    A scared Arab in Israel
    Sayed Kashua reflects on 'no loyalty, no citizenship'.
    Aid convoy
    Report: Nine arrested in England by terror police en route to Gaza.
      1.   Good. 13:06  |  Michael 20/01/09
      2.   Mr. Sarkozy: please urge Mr. Mubarak to close the tunnels ! 13:10  |  Benjamina 20/01/09
      3.   Waste of time 13:11  |  Natallie Durson 20/01/09
      4.   Will he invite Hamas, Syria and Iran....???? 13:24  |  Swiss (Dino) 20/01/09
      5.   Sarkozy needs to start living in reality... 13:29  |  B 20/01/09
      6.   Sarkozy to host global summit on mideast peace 13:47  |  Louise Shalev 20/01/09
      7.   Playing Obama against the Europeans 13:50  |  Steve J. 20/01/09
      8.   And the occupation goes on 13:58  |  blame shame khraim 20/01/09
      9.   Sarko`s been a pleasant surprise 14:04  |  sh 20/01/09
      10.   Its All Achievable 14:18  |  Andrew 20/01/09
      11.   Shameless Euro-Posturing Between US Administrations 16:26  |  Ovadiah ben Avraham 20/01/09
      12.   How Sarkozy can help finance a rebuilding 16:32  |  Arie 20/01/09
      13.   Sarkozy is a nutty dreamer 17:02  |  Arlette 20/01/09
      14.   #4 Who cares what the "Swiss antisemitic people" think 17:07  |  Massouda 20/01/09
      15.   Excellent: Agenda to pressure Israel to withdraw to Green Line 17:08  |  Ivar 20/01/09
      16.   Crazy!! 17:45  |  John 20/01/09
      17.   How come the politicians supporting Isael have 18:01  |  Kris Lazar 20/01/09
      18.   Yes we can 18:09  |  T 20/01/09
      19.   Swiss (Dino) #4 - NO 18:26  |  David Israel 20/01/09
      20.   French hypocrisy vive le difference ; not violence but resistence 18:43  |  r 20/01/09
      21.   Renouncing violence 19:00  |  Murray 20/01/09
      22.   i `m not surprised 19:09  |  jerome 20/01/09
      23.   sarkozy overestimates his own importance in the ME 19:11  |  zionist forever 20/01/09
      24.   Shalit is also a citizen of France 19:30  |  Norm 20/01/09
      25.   Durson, you forgot once more a detail 19:43  |  Israeli citizen 20/01/09
      26.   Will FM Livni be required 19:45  |  Lynn 20/01/09
      27.   PLO Changed Its Charter Under Bill Clinton -- Hamas No Less 19:50  |  Ovadiah ben Avraham 20/01/09
      28.   No, they are not invited Swiss... 19:53  |  Lynn 20/01/09
      29.   Read Hamas`s Charter 19:55  |  Ira 20/01/09
      30.   Israel don`t recognize Palestine right to Exist 19:57  |  Yossi Khen 20/01/09
      31.   Swiss (Dino) you also forgot something, a detail 20:00  |  Israeli citizen 20/01/09
      32.   We are not going to rebuild Gaza 20:08  |  Chris Linthwaite 20/01/09
      33.   Why shouldn`t they talk to Hamas. Isn`t France a Muslim nation? 20:08  |  Cynic 20/01/09
      34.   They might as well talk to Bin Laden while they are at it. 20:09  |  Cynic 20/01/09
      35.   It`s ok to talk to hamas, tell them they need to give up attacks 20:20  |  James Spade 20/01/09
      36.   That`s right ... 20:28  |  steve dill 20/01/09
      37.   Now THAT`S the french we know 20:29  |  Arie 20/01/09
      38.   #`s 3,4,5,8, are unimpressed by the principle of non-violence. 20:29  |  S 20/01/09
      39.   Oh, Israel! The world is changing... 20:31  |  Ed 20/01/09
      40.   Obama is of muslim background 20:38  |  Ed 20/01/09
      41.   No. 5 I agree 20:50  |  Grand Israel Dream 20/01/09
      42.   10 20:51  |  zionist forever 20/01/09
      43.   who really won 20:53  |  turbo 20/01/09
      44.   isolate hamas 21:01  |  real vision 20/01/09
      45.   # 28 I would say it takes quite a bit of "chuzpah" for...... 21:06  |  Swiss (Dino) 20/01/09
      46.   # 21 Israel citizen, I would also say it takes quite a bit..... 21:09  |  Swiss (Dino) 20/01/09
      47.   No talking with terrorists 21:10  |  Brod 20/01/09
      48.   Swiss (Dino) - It shows me the Europeans always 21:18  |  Ben 20/01/09
      49.   international conference in Paris 21:26  |  Ahmad Omar 20/01/09
      50.   # 12 David Israel 21:29  |  Swiss (Dino) 20/01/09
      51.   # 48 Ben, I would strongly suggest the state of Israel.... 22:18  |  Swiss (Dino) 20/01/09
      52.   welcome (back) to the new Palestinian unity government show - 22:27  |  ivo 20/01/09
      53.   Swiss Dino 22:30  |  Brad 20/01/09
      54.   Swiss (Dino) 22:43  |  David Israel 20/01/09
      55.   La France sera toujours La France !!!! 22:56  |  Romy 20/01/09
      56.   #47 Brod No talking with terrorists? 23:18  |  Lou Medel 20/01/09
      57.   How do you recognize a country without borders? 23:19  |  Lou Medel 20/01/09
      58.   What about Palestine`s right to exist? 23:37  |  Myles 20/01/09
      59.   # 51 Brad, your post sounds a lot like the standard....... 23:55  |  Swiss (Dino) 20/01/09
      60.   To # 56- Myles - Very unwise and hilarious comments 00:23  |  Johann 21/01/09
      61.   Reply to Brod 00:57  |  Truth 21/01/09
      62.   Sarkozy throws red line EU principles aside 01:10  |  Raymond in DC 21/01/09
      63.   A kind of recognition? 01:21  |  David Zukerman 21/01/09
      64.   To #3 Natalie Durson 02:12  |  Bob 21/01/09
      65.   To #32: Chris Linthwaite 02:28  |  Bob 21/01/09
      66.   Swiss (Dino): You don`t speak for me! 22:17  |  Micha 27/01/09
      67.   #31 IL citizen answering #4 CH citizen 22:21  |  Micha 27/01/09
      68.   Does the boycott Hamas policy work? 17:49  |  Manny Goldstein 15/02/09
     Haaretz Hot Topics
    Israel 2009 election results: Voter breakdown
    Israel goes to the polls
    Conflict in Gaza
    Israel vs. Hamas
    Iran: Nuclear and regional ambitions
    More Headlines
    17:27 Livni, Barak, Olmert working on proposal for Shalit deal, Gaza truce
    17:41 Livni hints she'll reject offer to join Netanyahu government
    14:16 Dichter: Israel must take military action against Gaza arms smuggling
    13:16 Slow Obama stance on Iran nukes worries Israel
    17:25 GIDEON LEVY / Israel should forget about bombing Iran
    08:32 U.S. fends off Israeli pressure, decides to help plan 'Durban 2'
    13:45 UAE denies Israeli tennis player Shahar Peer visa for tournament
    17:19 Exposed: Tel Aviv man has 32 women and 89 children
    11:45 IDF probe: Cannot defend destruction of Gaza homes
    16:51 Palestinian civil servants in West Bank strike to protest unpaid wages
    16:59 Olmert confirms Pope Benedict to visit Israel in May
    15:51 State Prosecution rejects Talansky request to testify behind closed doors
    15:42 Peretz calls on Labor leaders to convene urgent member meeting
    08:40 ANALYSIS / Olmert denial of Hamas talks is almost comical
    11:45 U.S. expected to pressure Israel on settlement construction
    13:10 Carmiel police raid makeshift explosives factory in nearby Arab village
    Previous Editions
    Special Offers
    Advertisement
    Spring Specials-Dan Hotels
    Jerusalem from 179$. Tel-Aviv from 223$. Herzliya from 336$
    Dead Sea Skin Care
    Summer in Israel
    Israeli style - Tzofim Chetz V'Keshet 2009
    Passover Vacations
    The BEST Passover Vacations around ? Mexico, Arizona and Florida
    Camp Kimama Israel 2009
    The best place for your children this summer
    Eldan Rent a Car
    Israel's leading car rental company offers you a 20% discount on online reservations
    Jewish Singles Personal Ads
    Find the love of your life on JDate.com
    Junkyard
    Junk a car - get free towing nationwide and a tax-deductible receipt
    Home | TV | Print Edition | Diplomacy | Opinion | Arts & Leisure | Sports | Jewish World | | Israel 2009 election results
    Site rules | Makom: Engaging on Israel | Search engine marketing
    Haaretz.com, the online edition of Haaretz Newspaper in Israel, offers real-time breaking news, opinions and analysis from Israel and the Middle East. Haaretz.com provides extensive and in-depth coverage of Israel, the Jewish World and the Middle East, including defense, diplomacy, the Arab-Israeli conflict, the peace process, Israeli politics, Jerusalem affairs, international relations, Iran, Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, the Palestinian Authority, the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, the Israeli business world and Jewish life in Israel and the Diaspora.
    © Copyright  Haaretz. All rights reserved