Update: Israel is negotiating with Hamas. When will McCain and Bush denounce them?

Posted by AZBlueMeanie:

John Aravosis over at AmericaBlog.com asks:

I’m waiting for John McCain and George Bush to explain to the American people how the Israelis are actually Holocaust appeasers, that should be fun to watch. Seriously, the media has to ask John McCain and George Bush why their harsh words about Barack Obama don’t apply equally to Israel itself? John McCain needs to be asked why his policies for dealing with the Middle East are directly opposite to what Israel is doing?  Israel is negotiating with Hamas. When will McCain and Bush denounce them?

The Israeli newspaper Haaretz reports that the Israeli government is engaged in indirect negotiations with Hamas on a cease-fire in the Gaza Strip. 

Is Israel breaking its own taboo on talks with Hamas?

By Amos Harel, Haaretz Correspondent

Last update – 09:48 18/05/2008

Participants at a recent inner cabinet meeting were listening to details of the Egyptian mediation initiative between Israel and Hamas on a cease-fire in the Gaza Strip recently, when a senior minister reportedly reminded those present that Israel does not negotiate, directly or indirectly, with Hamas. Shin Bet security service head Yuval Diskin interrupted, saying there was no other way to describe the talks.

A letter to Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, Defense Minister Ehud Barak and Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni, the details of which were revealed Friday, called for the indirect and secret talks with Hamas to be recognized. As for Israel’s greatest concerns – that Hamas will use a lull in hostilities to rearm and that Egypt’s promises to fight weapons smuggling bear no weight – the writers of the letter offered no solution.

Among the signatories’ names, that of MK Yossi Beilin (Meretz) is to be expected. More surprising are the names of the former Shin Bet chief Ephraim Halevi, who has actually been calling for talks with Hamas in recent months, along with former chief of staff Amnon Lipkin-Shahak and Brigadier General (res.) Shmuel Zakai, a former Gaza Division commander. This is an attempt to provide a military stamp of approval to a step Israel has officially sworn it would not take. What was taboo two years ago is no longer.

To read the full report, click on this link Is Israel breaking its own taboo on talks with Hamas? – Haaretz – Israel News

I suppose that some people will claim that Israel’s government is now anti-semitic?  Get a grip.