Blair will have to talk to Hamas - Bruce

5.44.53pm UTC (GMT +0000) Thu 5th Jul 2007

Malcolm visits a school in the Palestinian Territories as part of the evidence taken for the Committee's report

Tony Blair will have to talk to Hamas if he is to deliver as Middle East envoy, according to Rt Hon Malcolm Bruce MP, Chairman of the House of Commons International Development Committee, who opened a debate today (Thursday) on the Committee's report on Development Assistance and the Occupied Palestinian Territories.

The Gordon MP said:

"My committee's report warned that isolation of Hamas might drive them into a corner and encourage violence rather than negotiation. This has proved to be the case.

"The Hamas takeover of Gaza was brutal and unjustified but it has left the 1.4 million people living their beleaguered. If the welcome release of Alan Johnston indicates that Hamas controls security in Gaza then the international community may have to deal with Hamas or risk a potentially bloody Israeli military incursion.

"Just as Tony Blair had to talk to Sinn Fein and the IRA to promote peace in Northern Ireland he may have to talk to Hamas to get aid to the residents of Gaza.

"The situation in the West Bank is nearly as bad with more than 500 road blocks making normal life impossible. These are almost all designed to give security and access to illegal Israel settlements. The security fence which wanders all over the West Bank further divides communities and farmers from their land.

"Tony Blair has a huge challenge on his hands to win credibility from the Palestinians. Unless Israel is prepared to withdraw from the West Bank and move the security fence to the green line the West Bank has no viable future.

"For the international community to direct revenues and aid to Fatah President Mahmoud Abbas as if the 2006 election which saw his party rejected and Hamas elected had never happened is fraught with risk. The previous Fatah regime was corrupt and the Palestinians are divided and bitter that the outcome of a fair and democratic election was not respected internationally.

"This does not lay the foundations for peace or development but creates a weak and divided Palestine dependent on aid and unable to develop a viable economic future, which could be achieved with space, security and freedom of access and movement. Israel has legitimate security considerations but these are unlikely to improve in the long term while the present situation prevails."

ENDS