To the Editor:

Re "Adrift in the Middle East" (Editorial, April 3):

Standards for including Hamas in the peace process between Israel and the elected leadership of the Palestinian Authority have been set by the international community and a ceasefire falls far short of meeting the requirements.

To this day, Hamas refuses to recognize Israel's right to exist and has continued to wage a violent crusade against Israeli civilians. As reported on the front page of this newspaper on April 1, Hamas, in its campaign against Israel, has saturated Gazan culture with anti-Semitic messages in the media and in the educational system.  This incitement has deadly consequences for Israel's citizens.

Civilized society should ask for nothing less to ensure that Hamas has abandoned its goal of destroying Israel through violent means. Until then, Israel, the United States and the international community should continue to treat Hamas like the terrorist organization that it is.