When will people learn that Hamas doesn't want peace?

The Europeans keep on hoping that Hamas can be a partner for peace...

Tony Blair's hopes of inspiring a breakthrough in the Middle East were dashed yesterday when Hamas rejected his conditions for any future talks with the militant group.

During a visit to the region, the Prime Minister said Britain would talk to Hamas if it joined a new Palestinian government of national unity which renounced violence and recognised Israel. He encouraged other Western governments to do the same.

But Mr Blair's offer was immediately rejected by Hamas, which said that although it was ready to form a government with the moderate group Fatah, it would be on its own terms – "not according to standards that are dictated".

Sami Abu Zuhri, a Hamas spokesman, added: "I want to renew our rejection of these [Western] decisions because we consider them as biased, unjust and conditional decisions.