AFP reports - - -
The exiled leader of the Palestinian Islamist movement Hamas on Sunday hailed the "new lexicon" being used by US President Barack Obama towards foreign policy issues the Middle East.
"The challenge for everyone is that (Obama's new language) is a prelude to a sincere change (of direction) in US and European foreign policy," Khaled Meshaal said in an interview with Italian newspaper La Repubblica.
A senior US envoy said in Damascus earlier this month that Syria can be an important and constructive force in the Middle East, as Washington pursues a new policy of engaging with all countries in the region, even long-time foes.
And the Syria-based leader predicted that an "official" opening of US and European Union channels for dialogue with Hamas, listed as a terrorist organisation by the EU since 2003, is now "only a matter of time".
"The big powers need us to resolve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict," he said.
"Our weight in resolving the Palestinian question stems from our roots in society, in the people who have voted for us and who will do so again."
The rest of the story's here.
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My Comments:
As far as I'm concerned the story's report has credibility because it's a story Hamas wants to get out and Italy's La Repubblica is a leftist newspaper hugely sympathetic to Hamas and, at every chance, anti-American.
Sunday, March 22, 2009
Hamas Leader Hails Obama’s Approach
Posted by JWM at 8:57 PM
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2 comments:
I found this bit interesting.
"The challenge for everyone is that (Obama's new language) is a prelude to a sincere change (of direction) in US and European foreign policy,"
He makes no mention of the needed change in Hamas policy, for them to recognize the right of Israel to exist. That would go a long way to helping peace in the middle east.
But that's not what he wants at all.
Scott S.
Brit Hume had an intersting take on the Obama approach in the FNS Sunday round table. He mentioned that Condoleeza Rice had said to him that the US negotiates (or had in the past) differently than other nations - that we talked but had actions to back up our talk (either military or economic) while the Europeans talked and talked and talked some more. Hume suggested that the European method of diplomacy will be the policy of the Obama administration.
cks
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