TEL AVIV, Israel, June 16 (UPI) -- Israel's Foreign Ministry Thursday protested the European Union's increased contacts with Hamas, the Haaretz newspaper reported.
"We believe Europeans should be strengthening moderate Palestinians and not appeasing the extremists," the ministry's spokesman Mark Regev said. "Anything that demonstrates acceptance of Hamas as a legitimate player is a problem."
The issue arose after the European Union decided to let diplomats, below the rank of ambassadors, meet Hamas candidates for the Palestinian Legislative Council.
Haaretz quoted a senior Hamas representative in the West Bank, Mohammed Ghazal, as saying they meet a European diplomat every 10 to 14 days.
"No one can deal with the Arab countries without dealing with the Islamic movements, and no one can ignore Hamas when it comes to the Palestinian cause and Palestinian politics," Ghazal said.
Regev maintained Hamas is "a murderous terrorist movement that has been responsible for countless acts of suicide bombings throughout Israel against innocent civilians."
