Before getting into a serious discussion about engaging Hamas, several points of principle have to be clarified.

First, Hamas should be recognized and dealt with as a legitimate and elected representative of the Palestinians people.

Second, the US and other Western governments have no right to boycott or impose a blockade on the Islamic Resistance Movement or any Palestinian group.

Third, neither American nor Israeli officials have the right to determine Palestinian representatives in general or at the Israeli-Palestinian negotiations, in particular.

And fourth, Israel should be subject to the same conditions that the world demands from Hamas and Palestinians as preconditions to engaging in the so-called peace process.

As the situation stands now, we are witnessing a "process" that has turned into a farce and serves only as a façade to cover continued Israeli colonization of Palestinian lands.

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