Hamas intensifies Western dialogues to break political isolation
Hamas has stepped up its meetings with US and EU officials in an attempt to break its isolation and emerge on the international diplomatic scene.
The Israeli Public Broadcasting Corporation reported Dec. 31 that Hamas has intensified its meetings with European and US officials in a bid to break its international political isolation and open new channels of communication with the West.
A meeting was held in Doha between former Hamas leader Khaled Meshaal and Robert Malley, president of the International Crisis Group (ICG) in Washington, who served as Middle East special adviser to President Barack Obama. This was not the first meeting between the two men.
Meanwhile, Mousa Abu Marzouk, the head of Hamas’ international relations, held meetings with former officials from Switzerland, France and the UK.
During some of the meetings, the parties discussed the possibility of future international recognition of Hamas. While some EU officials requested that Hamas maintain contact with the EU and the United States, the Palestinian Authority (PA) expressed concerns that the international community might open up to the Islamic movement, according to the Israeli broadcaster.
