Blair sees peace with 'sensible' Hamas members

Blair sees peace with 'sensible' Hamas members
Comments follow report terrorist group met with Europeans, Democrats
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Posted: February 21, 2007
3:11 p.m. Eastern

By Aaron Klein
© 2007 WorldNetDaily.com

JERUSALEM – "Sensible" members of Hamas can be counted on as partners for progress toward peace in the Middle East, British Prime Minister Tony Blair said today.

Speaking to the British Parliament prior to a meeting with Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, Blair said, "I think there are possibilities for progress and I hope that in the coming weeks a framework to take this forward becomes a bit clearer."

"It's far easier to deal with the situation in Palestine if there is a national unity government. ... I hope we can make progress, including even with the more sensible elements of Hamas."

Blair was referring to a national unity deal forged in Mecca earlier this month between Abbas' Fatah party and the Hamas terror group. The agreement, which aimed to end months of Palestinian infighting, does not call for the new Palestinian unity government to recognize Israel and does not commit Hamas to abide by previous peace deals with Israel, only to "respect" the previous peace deals.

Manuel Hassassian, the Palestinian emissary to London, hailed Blair's remarks and urged the British prime minister to persuade the U.S. to negotiate with Hamas.

"President Abbas wants Prime Minister Blair to persuade the Americans that the Mecca deal is the only way out," Hassassian said.

"If there is any European country that can influence the Americans it's going to be the UK, given the fact that Blair is a personal friend of President Bush."

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