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French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner described France’s contacts with Hamas as “very superficial.” "There was one contact and it's over now. It was not a political negotiation,” he said.
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JERUSALEM/RAMALLAH (EJP)---Israeli Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni said the international community must shun Hamas and “support the peace process taking place with pragmatic elements."
She made the remarks after meeting Thursday in Jerusalem with her French counterpart Bernard Kouchner who confirmed earlier this week that his country had been in contact with Hamas in Gaza.
Livni also referred to a suicide bombing early Thursday at a Gaza crossing that killed the Palestinian driver of a truckload of explosives.
“The attempted attack at the Erez crossing point should demonstrate to the international community that, while it demands that Israel take care of the situation in Gaza and open the crossing points, Hamas, which controls Gaza, is not interested in improving the lives of the population and doesn't take even minimal responsibility for Gazan residents,” she said.
"The international community must continue to delegitimize Hamas," she added.
Kouchner had said on Monday a retired French ambassador met senior Hamas officials one month ago, but the contacts did not amount to "relations" or "negotiations."
Hamas is listed as a terrorist group by the European Union. France is to take over the EU presidency in July.
The Quartet of Middle East mediators, composed of the United States, United Nations, Russia and the EU, has demanded Hamas renounce violence, recognize Israel and accept previous peace accords as a condition for any talks. Hamas so far has refused.
Later, after talks with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, Kouchner described France’s contacts with Hamas as “very superficial.” "There was one contact and it's over now. It was not a political negotiation,” he said.
He said he hoped a "positive atmosphere" in the Middle East since a peace deal in Lebanon could help foster progress between Israel and the Palestinians.
"There is this good atmosphere in Lebanon as well as with Syria and also in Gaza," Kouchner declared.
