The European Union's Policy Towards the Islamic Resistance Movement "Hamas"

ABSTRACT This academically oriented and analytical study is a historical description of the European Union's stance vis-à-vis Hamas, especially after the latter's victory in the Palestinian election in January 2006. After providing a simple introduction that briefly covers the Post-Oslo events happening in 1993, the study analyze the logic of putting the military wing of Hamas (Ezzidin al- Qassam Brigades) on the terrorist list, and the opposition of some major European countries to such step, since it might lead to further radicalization of the moderate elements within Hamas. Although the EU member states were obliged to boycott the Hamas government and its officials because of the movement's failure to renounce violence and recognize Israel's right to exist, the voices that were growing in different European countries raised concerns over the complete boycott of Hamas' political leadership after its stunning victory in the 2006 Palestinian election and the wide spread of corruption charges during Fatah's rule. Hamas' obvious moderation was remarkably hope-inspiring, especially after the signing of the National Reconciliation Agreement, the Cairo Agreement and the Mecca Agreement. Still, the EU was not able to make any breakthroughs in their stance towards Hamas because of the latter's insistence not to recognize Israel's right to exist in peace and because of the EU's political initiative to leave that role to the US while at the same time concentrate more on supporting the Palestinians economically and at humanitarian level as well.