Meretz Chairman, MK Yossi Beilin, issued the following reaction to the Israeli government’s March 18, 2007 decision to boycott the new Palestinian unity government and all of its Cabinet Ministers – including those who are not part of Hamas.

“The government’s decision is ill-considered, unwise and does not bolster Israeli security. Time and again, Israel has fallen into the same trap that creates an artificial bond between [Palestinian] pragmatists and extremists. Israel is playing into the hands of Hamas by boycotting Hamas’ opponents, who believe in a political settlement and a two-state solution.

“Whoever thinks that it is possible to continue speaking with Abu Mazen [Mahmoud Abbas], while having a fit of pique at people like Salam Fayyad and others, does not understand what he’s deciding, and the vote of the Labor Party ministers who supported this decision, or abstained, adds only more shame to their disgrace.”