BASILDON and Billericay MP John Baron has urged the Government to persuade the Israelis to negotiate with Hamas.

Hamas, classed as a terrorist organisation by the West, holds power in the Palestinian Gaza strip.

During a debate on the Middle East in the House of Commons, Mr Baron asked Foreign Office Parliamentary Under Secretary of State, Alistair Burt, to call on Israel to look again at the issue.

He said: “Will he impress on the Israelis that Hamas is more than just a terrorist organisation? It is an idea – a frustration – borne out of many disillusioned and disenfranchised Palestinians, and the best way of defeating an idea is not by using force, but by coming up with a better idea, such as an equitable two-state solution.”

Mr Burt insisted Hamas was a terrorist organisation, but agreed there must be some movement in the peace process.

Speaking afterwards, Mr Baron said: “I consider myself a friend of Israel, but you make peace with your enemies, not your friends. Without dropping her guard, and with the help of the West, Israel must relinquish her siege mentality which has dogged negotiations for too long.”