Hamas Praises Russian Mediation Efforts
washingtonpost: Hamas' political chief said Saturday during a controversial visit to Moscow that Russia can be a significant force in promoting stability in the Middle East, although he did not back off from his earlier vow not to recognize Israel.
Khaled Mashaal met with the head of Russia's Council of Muftis, Ravil Gainutdin, on the second day of his three-day visit at the invitation of President Vladimir Putin.
Khaled Mashaal, third right, Hamas political chief, and members of the delegation Moussa Abu Marzouk, second right, and Said Siyam, fourth right, pray in Moscow's main mosque, Saturday, March 4, 2006. Hamas' leader ruled out any softening of the militant Palestinian group's hostility to Israel after high-profile talks in Moscow at which Russia called on it recognize the Jewish state and abandon violence.
Khaled Mashaal, third right, Hamas political chief, and members of the delegation Moussa Abu Marzouk, second right, and Said Siyam, fourth right, pray in Moscow's main mosque, Saturday, March 4, 2006. Hamas' leader ruled out any softening of the militant Palestinian group's hostility to Israel after high-profile talks in Moscow at which Russia called on it recognize the Jewish state and abandon violence. That invitation to a group considered a terrorist organization by the United States, European Union and Israel angered the Jewish state and surprised Russia's partners in the so-called Quartet of Mideast negotiators.
They had agreed to withhold international recognition from Hamas, which won Palestinian parliamentary elections in January, until it moderated its vehement opposition to Israel.
"Russia, which occupies a territory spanning Europe and Asia, is best positioned to sponsor a dialogue between civilizations and to ensure a balance of forces in the world," the Interfax news agency reported.
Mashaal and the rest of the Hamas delegation then were to meet with Russian Orthodox Church Patriarch Alexy II and the head of the Russian parliament's foreign relations committee.
In an apparent attempt to avoid further damage to relations with Israel, Putin will not meet the Palestinian delegation. The visitors will instead only take a sightseeing tour of the Kremlin on Sunday.
On Friday, the Hamas delegation met with Russian officials, including Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov. A Foreign Ministry statement said Russia urged Hamas to reject violence "as a means of obtaining political goals," to endorse existing Israeli-Palestinian agreements and to recognize Israel's right to exist.
But Mashaal struck an uncompromising stance, saying on arrival that Hamas would not consider recognizing Israel. Read more
db: Was there a Hamas manifesto commitment to recognise Israel? Why would Hamas do this so soon? It is unlikely that recognition of Israel is high on the list of Palestinian concerns. Recognition of Israel will surely come as a product of a some sort of meaningful quid pro quo - not as a result of threats and hypocrisy.
Khaled Mashaal met with the head of Russia's Council of Muftis, Ravil Gainutdin, on the second day of his three-day visit at the invitation of President Vladimir Putin.
Khaled Mashaal, third right, Hamas political chief, and members of the delegation Moussa Abu Marzouk, second right, and Said Siyam, fourth right, pray in Moscow's main mosque, Saturday, March 4, 2006. Hamas' leader ruled out any softening of the militant Palestinian group's hostility to Israel after high-profile talks in Moscow at which Russia called on it recognize the Jewish state and abandon violence.
Khaled Mashaal, third right, Hamas political chief, and members of the delegation Moussa Abu Marzouk, second right, and Said Siyam, fourth right, pray in Moscow's main mosque, Saturday, March 4, 2006. Hamas' leader ruled out any softening of the militant Palestinian group's hostility to Israel after high-profile talks in Moscow at which Russia called on it recognize the Jewish state and abandon violence. That invitation to a group considered a terrorist organization by the United States, European Union and Israel angered the Jewish state and surprised Russia's partners in the so-called Quartet of Mideast negotiators.
They had agreed to withhold international recognition from Hamas, which won Palestinian parliamentary elections in January, until it moderated its vehement opposition to Israel.
"Russia, which occupies a territory spanning Europe and Asia, is best positioned to sponsor a dialogue between civilizations and to ensure a balance of forces in the world," the Interfax news agency reported.
Mashaal and the rest of the Hamas delegation then were to meet with Russian Orthodox Church Patriarch Alexy II and the head of the Russian parliament's foreign relations committee.
In an apparent attempt to avoid further damage to relations with Israel, Putin will not meet the Palestinian delegation. The visitors will instead only take a sightseeing tour of the Kremlin on Sunday.
On Friday, the Hamas delegation met with Russian officials, including Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov. A Foreign Ministry statement said Russia urged Hamas to reject violence "as a means of obtaining political goals," to endorse existing Israeli-Palestinian agreements and to recognize Israel's right to exist.
But Mashaal struck an uncompromising stance, saying on arrival that Hamas would not consider recognizing Israel. Read more
db: Was there a Hamas manifesto commitment to recognise Israel? Why would Hamas do this so soon? It is unlikely that recognition of Israel is high on the list of Palestinian concerns. Recognition of Israel will surely come as a product of a some sort of meaningful quid pro quo - not as a result of threats and hypocrisy.
posted by exoplanet at 4:33 PM
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