France says it's had informal contacts with Hamas

France acknowledged on Monday that it had informal contacts with Hamas, the militant Palestinian group that the United States and the European Union consider a terrorist organization for its campaign of violence against Israel.

Washington swiftly condemned the move, but French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner
said such contacts are needed to gauge the humanitarian and political
situation in the Middle East. He said other European countries had
quietly done likewise, a contention supported by Hamas.

The opening, however slight, exposed new discord over how to deal
with an extremist group that much of the international community has
treated as a pariah since it seized control of the Gaza Strip by force
last June. Word of the contacts comes after former President Carter met
with Hamas leaders in Syria last month.

It was even more striking because French President Nicolas Sarkozy
has embraced Israel since taking office a year ago, in contrast to
predecessors who nurtured France's traditionally strong relations with
the Arab world. But experts noted Sarkozy has signaled the need for
"bridges" in response to Carter's contentious visit.

Speaking on French radio Europe-1, Kouchner insisted the French contacts with Hamas over "several months" did not amount to "relations" or "negotiations."

He did not delve into the substance of the contacts, but said Hamas
has become more "flexible" — even if it still refuses to recognize the
Jewish state's right to exist.

I've got a TON of "surrender" jokes, but I think that this article speaks for itself. They are showing that if you push violence hard enough upon the world, France is willing to negotiate. Nevermind the innocent people that have been murdered directly by Hamas members. It's France's skin that they are willing to save.

Appeasement is the only word I can think of that describes what I'm seeing here.

Travis
travis@rightwinglunatic.com