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Source: http://www.eubusiness.com/afp/030826113748.mfr4obku
Israel Pushes EU to Declare Hamas a Terrorist Organization
(AFP/EU Business) - • Israel has launched a diplomatic offensive to persuade EU countries to follow the U.S. and classify the political branch of Hamas as a terrorist organization. •"We hope to convince the Europeans, particularly countries such as France which are still hesitating to make such a move," Daniel Shek, director of the Israeli foreign ministry's Europe division, said Tuesday. •"It is not decently possible to draw a distinction between the military and the political wings as Hamas as a whole claims responsibility for terrorist attacks," said senior Israeli government spokesman Avi Pazner. • The Israeli push comes ahead of a gathering of EU foreign ministers in Italy early next month which is expected to feature discussions on sanctions against radical Palestinian groups and Hamas, in particular, according to a European diplomat. •A majority of EU governments - led by Britain, the Netherlands, and current EU president Italy - are in favor of hardening sanctions against Hamas. But countries such as France have argued in the past that such a move could be counter-productive. All 15 EU member states have to agree to such a classification for it to come into force.