FOLD ON DOTTED LINE:

Incoming Hamas PM says ready for talks with mediators (SARAH EL DEEB, 3/27/06, Associated Press)

The Palestinian Authority's incoming premier said Monday his Hamas-led government was ready to hold talks with international Mideast mediators, though he reiterated that Hamas would not cave in to economic pressures to soften its hard-line agenda.

The so-called Quartet of mediators -- the United States, the United Nations, the European Union and Russia -- is demanding that Hamas disarm, recognize Israel and accept past Israeli-Palestinian peace agreements. Hamas has so far rejected these conditions.

“The government is ready for dialogue with the Quartet,” incoming Palestinian prime minister Ismail Haniyeh told parliament. “The European Union has provided a lot of aid to our people, and supported our right for freedom. ... We are interested in a strong relation with Europe.”

When "militants" agree to talk they've already lost.

Posted by Orrin Judd at March 27, 2006 6:08 AM