Conservative Friends of Israel

Supporting Israel and Promoting Conservatism

Campaigns

Hamas and the Quartet Principles



Since Israeli disengagement from the Gaza strip in 2005 over 6000 rockets and mortars have been launched on Israel by Hamas and other terrorists.
 
Hamas, despite being in government, both facilitate and perpetrate terrorist attacks against Israel, including the kidnapping of Cpl Gilad Shalit in June 2006.
 
Hamas were democratically elected. However democracy is more than just elections; it brings responsibilities as well as rights. Hamas’s failure to accept the three Quartet principles has prevented Israel from dealing with a terrorist state.
 
To this day Hamas provocatively continue launching rockets on Israeli soil whilst cultivating western opinion through various media outlets. Rocket and mortar fire dramatically increased in March 2011, when as many as 50 mortars were indiscriminately fired into southern Israel in a single day. This sudden increase was significant not only because it was the largest barrage of rockets at Israel since Operation Cast Lead ended in January 2009, but also because it saw the firing of advanced Grad-type Katyusha missiles deep into Israel.

With its ideology intact, Hamas cannot be a partner for peace and will ensure that any Middle East peace is short-lived.

CFI continue to campaign on this issue in Parliament to ensure that all Conservative MPs are well briefed on this important issue.

"The House should not forget the role played by Hamas in this conflict. It continues to pursue an ideology of violence and directly to undermine prospects for peace in the region… We call on Hamas to take immediate and concrete steps towards the Quartet principles, unconditionally to release Gilad Shalit, who has been held in captivity for four years, and to end its interference with the operations of non-governmental organisations and UN agencies in Gaza. Rt Hon William Hague MP, Foreign Secretary, House of Commons, 2 June 2010