Backtracking from earlier reports that the EU may consider direct contact with Hamas, a Foreign Ministers’ meeting distanced the 25 nation body from Hamas and labeled it a terror organization removing all possibilities of interaction.

Earlier reports said that the EU may be reversing its earlier policy of isolating Hamas and considering contact with Hamas as it was considered a “relevant” party and that “Hamas is not the same party it was before the elections.” The EU now says that the 2003 roadmap for peace between Israel and Palestinian Authority remains “the only way to achieve a just and lasting peace” as it guarantees a homeland for both the Jewish state and Palestine .

Israel , supported by the US and EU, says that it will talk to Hamas only if it gives up violence, recognizes the Jewish state, and honors previous agreements. Hamas has rejected all three conditions and is at variance with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas who represents the Fattah party. Abbas threatened Hamas with a referendum and even reached an understanding for the recognition of Israel but his plans have been overtaken by the two hostage incidents triggered by Hamas and the Hezbollah that led to invasion of Gaza and Lebanon by Israel.

The international community is pushing for a meeting between Israel Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and Abbas as a first step to revive the now-dead talks. India should encourage this model where Abbas would seek a referendum of Palestinians after a “cooling off period” to ascertain the true intention of stakeholders. It should also encourage a referendum in Israel to determine the space its people would be interested to achieve peace