The US and Israel absolutely should engage and negotiate with Hamas, just as the US, UK and Irish engaged with the IRA, which was viewed by them all as a terrorist group. The terror in northern Ireland ended when political talks resolved the conflict. The same is likely to happen with Israel and Palestine. Hamas is a major and legitimate player and was also democratically elected. It cannot be avoided.
Its unsavory behavior, such as suicide bombings, must be addressed in a wider context that comprises two crucial elements: 1) Hamas and the Palestinian people must see that they can achieve their legitimate goals (i.e., the goals that are universally accepted) via diplomacy rather than military resistance and attacks, and, 2) the criminal acts of Hamas must be judged alongside the criminal acts of the state of Israel or Israeli rogue terrorists among the settlers. It is hypocritical to shun Hamas because of its military actions when the US negotiated with the Viet Cong, the IRA and others who were equally violent or killed Americans.
Hamas' offer of a long-term truce seems like a no-brainer for Israelis, who should jump on it and call Hamas' bluff.
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