A letter signed by a number of former diplomats published in the London Times questions why the ban on ties with Hamas has not been ended since “peace cannot be achieved without Hamas’ inclusion”. Among those who signed the letter is Shlomo Ben-Ami, a former Labor Party MK and foreign minister.

14 former foreign ministers and diplomats support the call to establish diplomatic ties with Hamas, explaining that diplomatic ties were established between Israel and the PA (Palestinian Authority) but this alone is insufficient. They quoted the late Moshe Dayan who stated if one wishes to make peace, one does not speak with one’s friends, but one’s enemies.

“We have learnt first-hand that there is no substitute for direct and sustained negotiations with all parties to a conflict, and rarely if ever a durable peace without them. Isolation only bolsters hardliners and their policies of intransigence”.

They add the sanctions and embargo on Gaza and the military operation were ineffective and the time has come to try a different approach.

Other signatories include Michael Ancram,Lord Ashdown of Norton-sub-Hamdon, 
Betty Bigombe (former Uganda Government minister), Alvaro de Soto (UN Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process and Envoy to the Quartet, 2005-07), Gareth Evans (Australian Foreign Minister, 1988-96), Peter Gastrow (former Member of Parliament in South Africa and member of the National Peace Committee and the National Peace Secretariat), Gerry Kelly (Sinn Féin member of the Northern Ireland Assembly), John Hume (Leader of the Social Democratic Liberal Party of Northern Ireland, 1979-2001), Dr Ram Manikkalingam (Founder of the Dialogue Advisory Group) and Lord Patten of Barnes.

(Yechiel Spira – YWN Israel)