Re: Letter Home (Jan. 30)

Dani Stieglitz’s “Letter Home” misstates the EU position on Hamas. The EU court held that there were technical errors when Hamas was classified as a terrorist organization. On these procedural grounds the court held that Hamas’ classification among terrorist organizations should be delisted.

However, the court issued a three-month stay so that current sanctions on Hamas could continue while the EU foreign secretaries prepared an appeal against its decision. A Google search shows that the EU as an entity still regards Hamas as a terrorist organization. I think it is also important to dissociate the position of the EU from that of the anti-Israelis in the BDS crowd and their PC acolytes. The EU may not be vocal supporter of Israel on all issues, but it is not an enemy. 

Then again, since Hamas is the de facto government of Gaza, perhaps the court and the EU should now classify Gaza as a belligerent state, which has declared itself at war with Israel. That would at least clarify to Israel’s critics that aggression by Gaza draws a legitimate Israeli response, however sad the results. 

Michael F. Sheff

Barrington, R.I.