UK PM Blair on Hamas – Press briefing/ Non-UN document

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PM hopes for progress with Hamas

The Prime Minister has acknowledged some "not unhelpful" signals from Hamas over the way forward in the Middle East peace process.

In an interview with Arabic news channel Al Jazeera, Mr Blair said that he understood the "concern and anxiety" within the Muslim world over the issue of Palestine. The situation could be overcome only through a "negotiated settlement between Israel and Palestine", he said.

Mr Blair stressed that while he "totally recognised" the legitimacy of the Hamas election victory, it was paramount that the party accept a two state solution.

"The problem is how do we negotiate with Hamas if they say Israel hasn't the right to exist? Some of the signs coming out of Hamas are not unhelpful, but we need to know where they really are."

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