Dalai Lama suggests unofficial contacts with Hamas

The Dalai Lama today said, "A little pressure'' might be necessary to get the Islamic Hamas group to change its ways but suggested Israel and the international community establish unofficial contacts with the militants who swept Palestinian legislative elections.

The exiled Tibetan spiritual leader suggested Palestinians voted for Hamas in Jan. 25 elections because they were ``fed up'' with their existing Fatah rulers.

``I don't think that the majority of the Palestinian people prefer violence. I don't think,'' the Dalai Lama said during a five-day visit to the holy land.

``Sometimes a little pressure is necessary,'' he told a conference in Jerusalem sponsored by the Israel democracy institute, a think tank. That was an apparent reference to current efforts to force Hamas to renounce violence and recognize Israel as a pre-condition for receiving aid and doing business with Israel and the international community.

But the Dalai Lama also suggested that certain levels of government and private organizations reach out to Hamas ``unofficially.''

``Various levels should explore, extend your hand, there's nothing to lose,'' he said.

In an earlier appearance in Jerusalem, the Dalai Lama urged Hamas to renounce violence and approach the situation ``more realistically.''