Hamas Health Minister Bassim Naim has been invited to address the
conference, sponsored by the German government-funded Federal Center for
Political Education, in June 2010. The invitation has alarmed Israel, which
raised the issue with the Berlin government.
In 2003, the EU deemed Hamas a terrorist organization and banned all
contact. But over the last two years a range of government-supported
institutions in the EU have been dealing with Hamas and lobbying for an end
to the boycott.
The German center has also invited former Israeli parliamentary speaker
Avraham Burg to the conference. Burg said he opposes any ban on Hamas.
"I've been saying for a long time that we must begin a dialogue with
Hamas," Burg said.
Several European governments maintain formal contact with Hamas. They
include Norway, Russia and Switzerland, none of whom is a full member of the
EU.
Over the next two weeks, at least 25 EU parliamentarians were expected
to visit the Gaza Strip as part of an effort to break the siege by Egypt and
Israel. Diplomats said the recruitment of the EU deputies has been based in
Brussels and meant to place parliamentarians aboard ships headed for Gaza.
ShareThis
