USSA Mideast envoy refuses Hamas talks

The US envoy to the Middle East will not meet with Hamas officials despite the movement's goodwill gesture towards the Obama administration.

A piece of the Mideast

Newly-appointed US peace envoy George Mitchell, who kicked off a Middle East tour on Tuesday, is expected to hold talks with Acting Palestinian Authority Chief Mahmoud Abbas in the West Bank on Thursday. He, however, has no plans to meet with the leaders of Hamas -- which the European Union, Israel and its closest ally, the US, brand as a "terrorist" group.

Mitchell's refusal to talk to Hamas comes while on Wednesday, senior Hamas official Ismail Haniya congratulated Obama on his inauguration, expressing the movement's willingness to work closely with the new US administration.

"Today we join you in the march toward change, change that will bring justice for all," the letter read in a reference to the 44th US president's most famous campaign slogan.

It also warned Obama against making the same mistake his predecessor had made saying "we hope that you will rectify the errors of the previous administration."

Despite the friendly approach by Hamas, Mitchell's refusal to meet with the movement's leaders hints that the 'change' administration is only rebranding the failed Bush administration's policies.

The move suggests that the US is not open to hearing all sides and is siding with Mahmoud Abbas whose term expired on January 9 and therefore his rule, according to Hamas, is no longer legal under the Palestinian constitution.

Hamas won the parliamentary elections in 2006 but Abbas sacked Hamas Prime Minister Ismail Haniya's unity government in 2007 and formed his own cabinet. Following the move Hamas took over the Gaza Strip in mid-June the same year. Source

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