News Brief

(IsraelNN.com) Groups and diplomatic sources in Europe have been meeting lately with the Hamas terrorist organization. Hamas deputy foreign minister Ahmed Yusef says he is establishing contact with the United States and the European Union through Swiss mediation, and delegations from France and Sweden recently met with the government in Gaza.

Damascus-based Hamas leader Khaled Mashaal met on Wednesday with a delegation from the Council of National Interests, an American group which deals in U.S. policy in the Middle East. On Monday he hosted a delegation of prominent British parliamentarians who said there's no way to reach real peace without direct dialogue with Hamas. Mahmoud Az-Zahar adds there are Christian groups in Europe who provide monetary aid.