[lbo-talk] this is big news

[SA]

Wow. This is important. It raises the possibility - just the possibility 
for now - that estimates of what Obama will do on the Mideast will have 
to be revised upward. It is hard for me to imagine that this comes 
without authorization from the Obama camp.

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http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1056821.html

Last update - 17:52 19/01/2009             
Report: EU to lift sanctions on Hamas if Palestinian unity gov't formed
By Akiva Eldar, Haaretz Correspondent
Tags: European Union, Gaza

If a Palestinian unity government is established, Europe would be 
willing to recognize the Palestinian leadership, and would consequently 
lift the sanctions it imposed on Hamas, sources in the entourage of 
French President Nicolas Sarkozy told France 2 television on Monday.

The European Union has classified Hamas as a terror organization, and 
has refused to negotiate with the group since it was elected to lead the 
Palestinian Authority in 2006.

On Sunday, the leaders of six key European Union states voiced their 
commitment to helping prevent Hamas from replenishing its weapons 
stocks. The leaders of France, Germany, Spain, Italy, United Kingdom and 
the Czech Republic, which currently holds the rotating EU presidency, 
visited Jerusalem and dined with Prime Minister Ehud Olmert Sunday, 
expressing their support for Israel following the three-week operation 
in Gaza, and their support for the cease-fire.