I’m publishing an interview about Hamas that I gave to il Corriere della Sera.

CdS: Minister, why are words about Hamas "ill-timed"?
ADP: Substantially correct but "ill-timed" in time and form. Today, whether we like it or not, Hamas is a force that has as an objective the destruction of the State of Israel. Using terrorism. There’s no dialogue with those who have not abandoned terrorism and still do not recognise Israel. I’d say more...
CdS: What more can you say about the people of Hamas?
ADP: That to talk to us they should disband. A terrorist is a terrorist. It’s not that now we open up to dialogue, we see where he goes and if it happens…. This is why I think the declarations of the President of the Council are correct, with the spirit expressed to be hoped for, but ill-timed. I’m sorry to say this as I’m part of the government. His words are inopportune because they do not calm down the situation. The wish is good, to go beyond the wish risks isolating us. The politics of loving everybody, in the event of war, is great in TV films. Not in reality.
CdS: What does Italy get out of taking a position like that?
ADP: It weakens our country. The more we wink at that world and the more we distance ourselves from the dangers of being blackmailed, however it’s a crafty formula. Because the problem is not resolved: badness must be eliminated.
CdS: According to the government, what is Hamas? A “popular group that won the election” or “protagonists of acts of terrorism”, as they are defined by D'Alema? A group that needs to be helped to evolve, as stated by Prodi, or one towards which it is useless approaching as the DS secretary, Fassino, maintains?
ADP: Even Hitler and Mussolini won elections. These declarations are ways of clutching at straws in relation to a left-wing formation in relation to which the Left has never had the courage to seriously separate themselves from. In the last 15 years, the left has always done lib-lab with this political grouping.
CdS: Lib-lab, Minister, in what way?
ADP: How many left wing leaders in the last 10-15 years have been to visit them… I have found myself in Centre Left demonstrations with flags which I would have set on fire… Or, I wouldn’t have set on fire, I would have dissociated myself from. The Palestinian people are to be helped, provided with golden bridges. However, when the Red Brigades were in Italy, it’s not as though Italians were Red Brigades. But I have to stay silent because in my coalition there are parties who have taken segments from these organisations.