The Americans have taken a resounding turn towards Israel's position regarding the ongoing hudna discussions between the PA and Hamas - namely, that hudna is not sufficient. President Bush said last night that he is skeptical about reports that the terrorists have agreed to a hudna (temporary ceasefire), and that in any event, the true test will be if the terrorist infrastructures are totally dismantled.
Bush, reacting to not totally confirmed reports that Hamas and Islamic Jihad had agreed to end some or all terrorism for three months, said that in light of the terrorists' history, "I'll believe it when I see it."
"The true test for Hamas and the other terrorist organizations," Bush said, "is the total dismantling of their terror networks, their ability to blow up the peace process." Speaking at a press conference with European Union leaders in Washington yesterday, Bush said that an oral agreement is not enough for peace in the Middle East.
President Bush wants the EU to include Hamas in the list of terrorist organizations and to stop funding it and other similar groups. He said that while the PA had agreed to the Road Map, the terrorists come and destroy the hopes of those who want peace. The American President did not mention that many of these terrorists come from the PA's own Fatah terror organization.
The European Union is still divided on the matter of whether to include all parts of Hamas in its terrorist organizations list, or only its military arm. Foreign Ministry sources said that EU Middle East envoy Migel Mauritinos and EU Foreign Minister Javier Solana are of the opinion that both wings of Hamas should be considered terrorist organizations.
Bush, reacting to not totally confirmed reports that Hamas and Islamic Jihad had agreed to end some or all terrorism for three months, said that in light of the terrorists' history, "I'll believe it when I see it."
"The true test for Hamas and the other terrorist organizations," Bush said, "is the total dismantling of their terror networks, their ability to blow up the peace process." Speaking at a press conference with European Union leaders in Washington yesterday, Bush said that an oral agreement is not enough for peace in the Middle East.
President Bush wants the EU to include Hamas in the list of terrorist organizations and to stop funding it and other similar groups. He said that while the PA had agreed to the Road Map, the terrorists come and destroy the hopes of those who want peace. The American President did not mention that many of these terrorists come from the PA's own Fatah terror organization.
The European Union is still divided on the matter of whether to include all parts of Hamas in its terrorist organizations list, or only its military arm. Foreign Ministry sources said that EU Middle East envoy Migel Mauritinos and EU Foreign Minister Javier Solana are of the opinion that both wings of Hamas should be considered terrorist organizations.