Middle East Talks: Subversive and Dangerous

One key player was missing from the obligatory pre-conference photo-call when the latest series of Middle East Peace Talks started. It was the Islamic Resistance Movement, acronym Hamas. No-one wants them there, and they do not want to be there anyway. But they play a deeply subversive and dangerous role nevertheless. The new talks are virtually worthless unless the parties can find a way to diminish Hamas, not just in Gaza but, potentially, in the region. Egypt holds a key.