The ongoing left-Islamist love affair continues. Hence Norwegian Foreign minister Støre finds himself in a position most familar to another Laborite, Tony Blair:

Party colleagues complained that Støre has given in to pressure from the EU, the US and Israel in his decision to withhold aid.

They also complained that Støre's move weakens Norway's independent role in the Middle East conflict.

They ignore, of course, the fact that Hamas has consistently rejected the pinnacle of Norwegian diplomatic achievement, the Oslo agreements just as they ignore the movements violent Islamism. Note the misleading wording of the following sentence:

He claimed it should be withheld until the new government acknowledges Israel's right to exist. Hamas, which won the last Palestinian election, earlier has urged the destruction of Israel.

The word earlier is clearly designed to imply no longer. Yet when the European media wrote that Hamas' foreign minister may be wavering on non recongnition, he quickly set them straight. But, forget inconvenient facts:

Støre's grassroots Labour Party colleagues aren't the only ones unhappy with his freeze on aid. Labour's government coalition partner SV, the Socialist Left, is a traditional supporter of the Palestinians, and political observers said Støre's move suggests that SV's policies aren't being respected in the new government.