Via Reuters: Spanish PM to hold ETA talks in June:
Spanish Prime Minister Jose Luis Zapatero says he will begin peace talks with Basque armed separatists ETA this month, despite opposition protests against negotiations.
I have no doubt that there are (and will be) plenty of Spaniards opposed to these talks. However, this is the type of situation where if reasonable accommodation can be reached, then a negotiated settlement is a substantially better outcome than a continuation of the standoff.
Interestingly, I think that 911, not to mention 311 in Madrid and the London bombings, have make it difficult (if not impossible) for groups like ETA to engage in political violence to any positive (from their POV) end. Terrorist tactics, while hardly ever popular in any way, are now viewed in even a dimmer light than before, making it very difficult for groups like ETA to generate any sympathy for their cause if they are going to use random bombings to make their point.
