Incoming administration will
abandon Bush's isolation of Islamist group 
to initiate low-level diplomacy, say transition sourcesSuzanne Goldenberg in US president-elect Barack Obama is widely expected to adopt a more even-handed approach to the Middle East conflict once he assumes office.
The incoming Obama administration is prepared to abandon George Bush's Âdoctrine of isolating Hamas by establishing a channel to the Islamist organisation, sources close to the transition team say.
The move to open contacts with Hamas, which could be initiated through the US intelligence services, would represent a definitive break with the Bush Âpresidency's ostracising of the group. The state department has designated Hamas a terrorist organisation, and in 2006 ÂCongress passed a law banning US financial aid to the group.
The Guardian has spoken to three Âpeople with knowledge of the discussions in the Obama camp. There is no talk of Obama approving direct diplomatic negotiations with Hamas early on, but he is being urged by advisers to initiate low-level or clandestine approaches, and there is growing recognition in Washington that the policy of ostracising Hamas is counter-productive. A tested course would be to start Âcontacts through Hamas and the US intelligence services, similar to the secret process through which the US engaged with the PLO in the 1970s. Israel did not become aware of the contacts until much later.
A draft was agreed last night at the UN, calling for an immediate and unconditional ceasefire between Hamas and Israeli forces in Gaza, the head of the Arab League said. Amr Moussa said Arab countries want the security council to vote on the resolution. It was supported by the US, Israel's closest ally, and Arab countries with ties to Hamas.
Richard Haass, a diplomat under both Bush presidents who was named by a number of news organisations this week as Obama's choice for Middle East envoy, supports low-level contacts with Hamas provided there is a ceasefire in place and a Hamas-Fatah reconciliation emerges.
Another potential contender for a Âforeign policy role in the Obama administration suggested that the president-elect would not be bound by the Bush doctrine of isolating Hamas.
"This is going to be an administration that is committed to negotiating with Âcritical parties on critical issues," the source said.
There are a number of options that would avoid a politically toxic scenario for Obama of seeming to give legitimacy to Hamas.(more at link)
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/jan/08/barack-obama-gaza-hamasSeem to give legitimacy to Hamas!??!?!? SEEM TO!??!?! Are they really that stupid!?!?
