EU: Hamas will not be removed from list of terror organizations

The European Union will not consider removing Hamas from its list of terrorist organizations so long as it refrains from demonstrating "respect for human rights," European security commissioner Franco Frattini told the Italian daily newspaper Corriere della Sera on Tuesday.

Frattini told Corriere della Sera the EU "cannot give Hamas a blank check" and said the organization has not changed its character since 2003 - when the EU initially designated it a terrorist organization.

"It's an enormous problem, even its educational foundations incite violence against Israel. One just has to look at some of their school programs. Or they continue to provide financial aid to relatives of young kamikazes. These are all things that we cannot remain silent on," he told the paper.

Frattini also said Hamas "is attempting a stunt to make itself acceptable as a candidate in Palestinian elections."

He compared the initial contacts Hamas attempted to make with the EU to "a stone thrown in a pool," conducted in order to evaluate how the European body would respond to its overtures. The Islamic group is focused on "gaining legitimacy with the EU," Frattini said.

http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/567016.html

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