A dialogue with Hamas?

Some time ago we wrote that the time has perhaps come when the EU should conduct a dialogue with the Arab opposition, such as the Islamic Brotherhood and Hamas (the Palestinian Islamic Resistance Movement).

That might have raised a few eyebrows. Of course, those movements that have terrorist tendencies must first renounce terrorism. In the case of Hamas, this may be possible and sooner than thought.

Hamas has decided to run for the Palestinian Legislative Council (Parliament), halt all military operations for the time being and consider joining the Palestine Liberation Organisation. If these changes are completed, then Hamas would have been turned around completely.

Should Hamas contest the elections to the Palestinian Legislative Council, it would in all probability emerge as the strongest party, if not the outright winner. This change in the attitude of Hamas has been brought about by the success of Palestinian reform.

It is yet another example of how increased democracy in the Arab World is useful but that it will not always go the in the direction most desired by its promoters, particularly the United States. It can lead to power being delivered in the hands of radical movements.

The other face of the coin is that in order to play the democratic game, extremist groups must disarm and join the mainstream political process. These developments are worth watching and the project of democracy is still worth pursuing. It may be instilling change, but not in the manner at first imagined.