New York, NY, June 17, 2005 … Following revelations that the European Union (EU) has held talks with representatives of the Palestinian terrorist organization Hamas, the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) urged all 25 EU Foreign Ministers and the EU's High Representative dealing with foreign policy, Javier Solana, to suspend such contacts.

In recent weeks the EU has engaged in contacts with Hamas despite having designated its military wing as a terrorist organization in 2002 and, in 2003, applying this designation to Hamas's political wing, and freezing its assets within the EU.

"There is a deeply disturbing inconsistency in the EU's policy," said Abraham H. Foxman, ADL National Director. "At the same time as designating Hamas a terrorist organization, they are giving it legitimacy by talking with its representatives. We are saying to all the EU Foreign Ministers, to Mr. Solana and - as the UK is about to take over the EU Presidency - to the British government -- Hamas has to disband its military wing, end its vicious propaganda against Israel and the Jewish people and recognize Israel's right to exist in peace and security. Talking to Hamas before these steps have taken place is a dangerous compromise with terrorism," he stressed.

"The timing of the contacts is extremely unfortunate," Barbara B. Balser, ADL National Chair, and Mr. Foxman wrote in their letter to the foreign ministers, given that Israel is taking courageous steps towards peace by disengaging from the Gaza Strip and parts of the West Bank. The League leaders said that it would be more appropriate for the EU to reaffirm its policy towards Hamas rather than dilute it.   According to Mr. Foxman, "not to do so means that Hamas is receiving a signal from the EU that terrorism yields political benefits."

The Anti-Defamation League, founded in 1913, is the world's leading organization fighting anti-Semitism through programs and services that counteract hatred, prejudice and bigotry.