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Don't Talk to Hamas, Ross Tells EU

(Jerusalem Post) Hilary Leila Krieger - Former U.S. Mideast envoy Dennis Ross on Monday attacked EU officials who have met recently with Hamas members. "If you're dealing with them, I think you're undercutting the Palestinian Authority. I wouldn't undercut the Palestinian Authority. The U.S. administration is not dealing with them and I wouldn't. And for those who say, 'Well, they're [officials] in municipalities where I have projects,' then I say, direct your projects elsewhere." He also criticized Europeans who had failed to make good on their suggestion that they would buy the Gush Katif hothouses and give them to the Palestinians rather than see them dismantled or ruined during disengagement. "They [now] seem reluctant to do that on the grounds that they don't want to be 'benefiting settlers,' but the truth is this is actually investing in Palestinians, because this could produce anywhere from 10,000-15,000 jobs for the Palestinians," Ross said. Ross urged the U.S. to state very clearly before the Palestinian legislative elections that they won't deal with Hamas candidates should they win. He responded to the charge that the Americans wouldn't be "respecting the rule of the people" with, "The Palestinians can choose whomever they want, but we also have the right to choose whom we will deal with."
2005-07-05 00:00:00
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