re: #124 MJ

OT:

Clinton rules out negotiations with Hamas

WASHINGTON (AFP) – US secretary of state Hillary Clinton on Tuesday ruled out negotiations with the Palestinian Islamist militant group Hamas unless it drops its extremist stance, saying her position is “absolute.”
“On Israel, you cannot negotiate with Hamas until it renounces violence, recognizes Israel and agrees to abide by past agreements. That is just for me an absolute,” Clinton told a Senate confirmation hearing.
“That is the United States government’s position. That is the president-elect’s position,” she said after a senator suggested it is “naive and illogical” to pursue diplomacy with governments opposed to Israel.
She echoed the stance of the outgoing administration of President George W. Bush which is supporting Egyptian efforts to mediate a ceasefire following an 18-day Israeli war to stop Hamas rocket attacks.

[Link: news.yahoo.com…]

We’ll see how much of that survives, and for how long, amongst the Arabists at Foggy Bottom!