Melanie Phillips is appalled that Western governments should consider talking to democratically elected Hamas representatives: “Hamas is a jihadi terror organisation, period. The decision by Britain and the US to treat with it is spineless and shameful and wholly counter-productive for the defence of the civilised world.”

Melanie Phillips’s Diary, 7 June 2005

Whereas, of course, holding talks with elected representatives of Likud who are responsible for acts of state terrorism against the Palestinian people is entirely acceptable.

See also “US signals policy shift on Hamas: diplomats”, Islam Online, 6 June 2005