Israel warns EU to stay away from Hamas ahead of election

By Andrew Beatty

Date: 24/11/05

Israel has voiced its concern over the EU's decision to allow contact with Hamas candidates at upcoming Palestinian elections, despite the group being on the EU's list of terrorist organisations.

Israel's ambassador to the EU, Oded Eran, expressed disappointment at the move and called on the EU to adopt an "unequivocal" position towards participants in the parliamentary elections, due to take place on 25 January.

"We have serious misgivings about the participation of Hamas and the soft reaction of the EU to this participation," he said.

Earlier, when announcing the creation of a 175-strong election monitoring mission (EUOM) to oversee the poll, External Relations Commissioner Benita Ferrero-Waldner said that contacts with Hamas representatives would be allowed in certain circumstances.

"It is clear that we do not have contact with Hamas as an organisation because it is on this terrorist list, but, to do its job well, the EUOM needs to be able to talk to the candidates," she said.

In an attempt to assuage Israeli fears and those of critics inside the EU, Ferrero-Waldner said that contacts would be strictly limited.

"I think the right way forward is to maintain the necessary contacts with the candidates but to strictly limit these to what is absolutely necessary. That means no political discussion unrelated to the election process should go on. This is the way we will instruct our people and this is the way it will work."

After strong lobbying from Israel, Hamas was put on the EU's list of terrorist organisations in 2003. Israel accuses the group, which is strongly Islamic, of inciting violence against Israelis and funding terrorism.

With Israeli elections now expected in March, the EU's decision could prove more controversial.

According to Eran, the EU must use its weight with the Palestinian Authority to press for candidates to be barred from running if they do not renounce violence and support the primacy of state law. This would rule out groups who advocate establishing Sharia, or Islamic law.

"We have appealed to the EU to take diplo- matic action with the Palestinian Authority and establish a set of minimum requirements to participate in these elections," he said.

It is unclear if the EU is willing to take such a move, with Commissioner Ferrero-Waldner emphasising that the elections are part of a wider process of bringing all parties into the political mainstream. Eran described that view as "naive".

Article reports that Israel voiced its concern over the EU's decision to allow contact with Hamas candidates at upcoming Palestinian elections, despite the group being on the EU's list of terrorist organisations.

European Commission: DG External Relations: The EU's Human rights & Democratisation Policy: EU Election Assistance & Observation: EU Election Observation Mission for Palestinian Legislative Council Elections http://ec.europa.eu/comm/external_relations/human_rights/eu_election_ass_observ/westbank/legislative/index.htm

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