Israel slams EU contacts with Hamas, Hezbollah

An Israeli Foreign Ministry report accused the European Union of violating international law by having contacts with the Palestinian resistance group HAMAS, and Lebanon’s HEZBOLLAH movement.

“Several countries have adopted a policy that includes entering into official talks with representatives of Hamas and Hezbollah, or refraining from taking harsh measures against their involvement in terrorism,” said the report, published in the Haaretz daily.

“From a legal standpoint, such political considerations cannot justify activity that is contrary to international law.”

The document cited UN Security Council resolutions which it said banned active or passive support for bodies or individuals involved in “terrorism“.

The Israeli report comes after the EU decided to engage in talks with Hamas members running in next month’s legislative elections, to be monitored by an EU mission.

Hamas, which made record gains in recent municipal elections, is contesting elections for the first time.

The Israeli Foreign Ministry claims that the EU’s decision signals a policy shift by the European Union, Haaretz said. Israeli officials fear that EU electoral observers will make use of "technical" contacts with Hamas candidates to hold political discussions as well.

Dutch Foreign Minister Bernard Bot said last month that a broader discussion on the EU’s strategy towards Hamas is being discussed by member states, with the Netherlands fiercely opposing direct talks with the Palestinian movement.

In 2003, the EU placed Hamas on its list of terrorist organizations. But the 25-member body so far resisted Israeli demands to add Hezbollah to its list. The U.S. classifies Hamas as a ‘terrorist’ organisation.

The Israeli Foreign Ministry claims that the EU didn’t include Hezbollah in its terrorist organizations’ list because some members states make a distinction between its military and political wings.

The Israeli criticism to the EU over Hamas and Hezbollah comes after an EU report slammed Israel’s rapid settlement expansion in and around east Jerusalem.

Poll: Fatah ahead of Hamas

In Palestinian politics, a recent poll showed that President MAHMOUD ABBAS' Fatah party is on course for a clear victory over Hamas in the January 25 polls, according to AFP.

The Ramallah-based Palestinian Centre for Policy and Survey Research found Sunday that Fatah is poised to win 50 percent of the votes. It said Hamas will take 32 percent, while nine percent will go to minor parties or independents.

Meanwhile, Al Aqsa Martyrs’ Brigades, a resistance group affiliated with Fatah, raided the Palestinian election office in the central Gaza town of Deir el-Balah, witnesses and election officials said, according to The Associated Press news agency.

The gunmen were protesting Fatah’s plan to appoint candidates instead of holding a primary. “We are fully confident that there is a conspiracy to divide Fatah and this is a pre-planned systematic conspiracy,” the group said in a statement. “We are completely against appointing any nominees to the Fatah movement list to run for the coming elections ... and we are going to boycott this election.”

However, Palestinian Prime Minister Ahmed Qorei denied there was tension in the party. “There is no such disagreement. Who is saying that? All we want is a list that will garner our people’s support,” he said.

In a separate development, Israeli occupation forces raided the West Bank city of Nablus on Monday.

Security sources said Israeli soldiers, backed by armored vehicles, surrounded a number of houses in Nablus and arrested more than six citizens.