The foreign ministers of the EU are convening on Monday to discuss the matter. Their goal is to establish a common line on how to deal with the radical Islamist party, which is registered on the EU list of terror organizations. EU diplomats say time is of the essence, and the Europeans should watch how government building progresses and how the politics of Hamas develops.

If Hamas swears off violence and acknowledges Israel's right to exist, that would be a step in the right direction and a signal that the EU can continue channeling extensive financial aid to the Palestinian Authority without worry. But the ministers have not gone quite so far as to draft concrete demands for the Hamas or to threaten with financial consequences.