British MPs: Time to Allow Hamas be Heard

Source: Al-Manar TV, 24-7-2008
The British Guardian said that a cross-party group has called on the so called Quartet's Middle East envoy Tony Blair to open a dialogue with Hamas, saying "until now there has been no engagement between the Quartet and Hamas, but now we think it is time".
The international community, said the Members of Parliament, should "seize the opportunity" presented by the ceasefire reached between "Israel" and Hamas to try and include the latter in the peace process.
Liberal Democrat MP Malcolm Bruce said that MPs believed it was time for the Quartet - which is made up of the US, the EU, Russia and the UN - to allow Hamas to be heard.
The MPs noted that Hamas' takeover of Gaza Strip was "neither justified nor acceptable", but added that including the group in the peace talks was imperative, urged the Quartet to use the opportunity provided by the truce to try and facilitate a solution to the rift between rival Palestinian factions Hamas and Fatah.
The Quartet is adamant that Hamas adheres to three principles -recognizing "Israel", renouncing violence and abiding by previous agreements - before it allows it to be involved in the peace process.
Bruce added that food, petrol and water were in short supply in the Strip, and that the public health system was under severe pressure following the closure of border crossings with "Israel".
""Israel" has obligations to ensure the health and welfare of the Palestinian population, which it has not met," he said, "We believe the situation was allowed to continue for too long, and that the Quartet did not exert sufficient pressure on "Israel" to open the crossings."