Q: Doesn't it make sense for Israel to refuse to negotiate with terrorists?

A: The entire issue is phony; Israel has not been negotiating with Fatah in any real sense since the end of talks at Taba in early 2001, in the last days of Ehud Barak's term as Prime Minister of Israel. So their refusal to talk with Hamas does not represent a change from before the election.

It is fair for Israel to push for Hamas to change their charter. But one makes peace with enemies, not with friends or even "partners." It was not the military leaders of Hamas that got elected, but those from its political wing. The same controversy was raised a decade ago in Northern Ireland, and everyone eventually realized that the only way to move forward was to involve Sinn Fein, the Irish Republican Army's political wing. That same pragmatic view is needed now.

It is wrong and counter-productive for Hamas to refuse to negotiate with Israel and it is wrong and counter-productive for Israel to refuse to negotiate with the legitimately elected leadership of the Palestinians.