The political leader of Hamas is made a signifigant move toward changing Hamas' position on the right of the State of Israel to exist.

Instead of welcoming this apperent change from the leadership of Hamas, the Olmert government and Condi Rice are doing their best to discount and ignore this new opertunity to move forward.

Hamas yesterday appeared to soften its long-standing refusal to recognise Israel. Khaled Meshal, the Islamic movement's political leader in exile in Damascus, said that Israel was a "reality" and that "there will remain a state called Israel, this is a matter of fact". Both Israeli and European diplomats reacted with caution, although they acknowledged that the interview contained things Hamas had not said before. Mr Meshal is regarded as the man who dictates policy for the Palestinian government from his base in the Syrian capital. The Independent

If Rice chooses to ignore an opening like this we'll all know that she was only going through the motions.