Hamas says that some of its newly elected mayors have met with diplomats from the European Union. Europe has been softening its approach toward Hamas after it won some municipal elections, even though the group is on both the European and American list of terrorist organizations. Israel opposes the contacts because Hamas is responsible for dozens of deadly suicide bombings and seeks the destruction of the Jewish state. "We believe the Europeans should be strengthening moderate Palestinians and not appeasing the extremists," said Foreign Ministry spokesman Mark Regev. Israel believes contacts with Hamas point to a European double standard in the war on terror. (We’ll have an in-depth report on Hamas taking over Biblical Bethlehem in next month’s edition of “israel today” magazine).