Israel protests Russian overtures on Hamas
(Reuters)
Updated: 2006-02-11 09:35

JERUSALEM (Reuters) - Israel on Friday protested a Russian plan to invite Palestinian election winner Hamas to Moscow for talks, saying the world should shun the Islamist militant group, but France expressed support for the initiative.

Russian President Vladimir Putin during a meeting in Moscow, February 7, 2006. [ITAR-TASS]

Israeli President Moshe Katsav and others said Russian President Vladimir Putin threatened peacemaking prospects if he followed through on his invitation for Hamas to visit Moscow after its victory in the January 25 parliamentary election.

Israeli Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni warned against what she called a "slippery slope" that could lead other nations to compromise with Hamas, whose charter calls for the destruction of the Jewish state.

Israeli Defense Minister Shaul Mofaz said at a meeting in Italy with NATO defense ministers that nations should avoid speaking to Hamas or any other "terror" group.

NATO Secretary-General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer said contacts between the alliance and Hamas were out of the question, and U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan urged a new Hamas government to stick with the internationally backed "road map" to Middle East peace.

Annan said most Palestinians oppose terrorist attacks on Israeli civilians and accept Israel's right to exist.

Russia said other countries would sooner or later follow its lead and have contacts with Hamas. French Foreign Ministry spokesman Denis Simonneau said Russia's initiative could "contribute in advancing our position."

"We share with Russia the goal of leading Hamas toward positions that permit reaching the objective of two states living in peace and security," Simonneau said.

As the diplomatic dispute intensified, Israel launched overnight airstrikes in Gaza, hitting roads and fields believed to be used by militants for rocket attacks on Israel, Israeli and Palestinian security sources said.

HAMAS RALLYING SUPPORT

The quartet of Middle East mediators -- the United States, the United Nations, the European Union and Russia -- has said the Palestinians may lose foreign aid if Hamas did not renounce violence and recognize Israel.

Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh (C) waves as he arrives from Egypt to Gaza Strip February 9, 2006. [Reuters]

Calling Israel a "danger" to Arab nations, Hamas's senior leader, Khaled Meshaal, who lives in exile, told a cheering crowd in Qatar that the group would not stop anti-Israel attacks unless its demands were met, without elaborating.

"We extend to the world ... a page of peace that is based on dignity, pride, rights and the Palestinian Arab and Muslim constant rights," he said. "If they reject, then a page of steadfastness, resistance, self-defense and a confrontation against the aggression."

Meshaal, who is touring Muslim states to try to rally political and financial support for the militant group, said: "We are also able to make contact with the international community and we will deal with them in a new language."

Israel has ruled out negotiating with Hamas, which masterminded more than 60 suicide bombings against Israelis since 2000 but has largely adhered to a truce declared in March.

Meir Sheetrit, an Israeli cabinet minister and political ally of interim Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, said Israel should consider recalling its ambassador to Russia, and accused Putin of "stabbing Israel in the back."

But Russian Defense Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Sergei Ivanov defended Russia's offer of talks with Hamas.

"Hamas is in power, this is a fact, and secondly, it came to power as a result of free democratic elections," Ivanov told reporters at a NATO-Russia meeting in Italy.

He said Moscow was not happy with all of Hamas's policies, but predicted the West had no choice but to deal with it.

"I hazard the prediction that sooner or later certain countries, including those of the quartet, will be favorable to contacts with Hamas," he said.