Refusal to recognize Hamas will hurt peace

In the wake of Hamas' stunning victory in the Palestinian elections, President Bush reiterated his refusal to recognize a Palestinian government that includes Hamas. This is neither sensible nor consistent with America's own precedents. And it only hurts the hope for peace.

In the late 1990s, a breakthrough was on the horizon after centuries of conflict in Northern Ireland. The United States was among the many nations that recognized that it was more important to engage Sinn Fein -- the political wing of the Irish Republican Army -- than it was to insist that the IRA completely disarm as a precondition for participating in the fledgling unity government.

History showed this to be the right decision. It is precisely that sort of pragmatic vision that is needed in America's relations with the new Palestinian Authority.

Hamas has not shown any inclination toward disarmament. But it has shown itself to be open to melding its armed wing with Palestinian Authority security forces.

What's more, it has already broken with its past by indicating a willingness to talk, albeit indirectly, with Israel. This is real progress toward a significant decrease in violence.

Even if it falls short, that is not a reason to confine Hamas to the path of shooting and suicide bombing. Freezing Hamas out of the political process will do just that. Engaging it keeps a lot of the violence at bay and significantly increases the hope for a lasting peace.

There are plenty of good reasons to view Hamas with disdain. But Hamas now is conceding that its violent struggle is unlikely to produce anything for the Palestinians. Despite its attempts to depict the Israeli pullback from the Gaza Strip as a triumph for its violent tactics, Hamas and the Palestinian masses knew very well that this was not the case.

Now that Hamas has effectively conceded that point, it is not the time to push it back down the road toward more violence.

Hamas' popularity is not based primarily on its attacks on Israelis or on its religious views, much less on its anti-Semitism. Its popularity is based on the social services it has provided and the sense that it is not corrupted as so many in the ruling Fatah Party have become.

If the United States refuses to recognize a government that won such a huge percentage of the vote, it would deliver a crushing blow to Palestinian hopes for justice and democracy.

As the West Bank barrier grows, the Israeli government is seeing the possibility of cutting Israel off from the Palestinians, dismantling more settlements and essentially setting the boundaries of the future without having to negotiate with the Palestinians. The Hamas-led government will provide the Israeli government with a great excuse to proceed unilaterally.

But that strategy depends on the United States supporting a boycott of a Palestinian Authority led by Hamas. If America is willing to talk to the Palestinian Authority, it could be impossible for Israel to refuse to do so.

Mitchell Plitnick is director of policy at Jewish Voice for Peace ( www.jewishvoiceforpeace.org ).