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Hamas, in Moscow, firm on not recognizing Israel
(Reuters)
Updated: 2006-03-03 14:52
Palestinian Hamas officials arrived in Russia for first talks with a major
foreign power on Friday but poured cold water on hopes of a peace breakthrough
by saying they were firm in their refusal to recognize Israel.
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| Heads of Palestinian families shake hands with Hamas leader and the
Palestinian Authority's next Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh (L) in Gaza
February 28, 2006. [REUTERS] |
"The issue of recognition is a done issue. We are not going to recognize
Israel," Mohammed Nazzal, a senior official accompanying exiled Hamas politburo
chief Khaled Meshaal, told reporters after their delegation arrived in Moscow.
Although it deals a blow to U.S.-led efforts to isolate Hamas since it swept
Palestinian elections in January, Russia's mediation is seen by some in the West
as a chance to press the Islamic militant group into embracing more moderate
views.
Russia has said that, in talks slated for later on Friday, it would endorse
the view of fellow patrons of the "road map" to Israeli-Palestinian coexistence
that Hamas must recognize the Jewish state, renounce violence, and accept past
peace accords.
The pledge helped quell concern in Israel, which sees Hamas as a spearhead of
a more than 5-year-old Palestinian uprising.
After initially condemning Moscow's overtures toward Hamas, Israel adopted a
wait-and-see attitude on the talks' results.
Hamas regards the visit as a chance to push its position on the Western stage
after winning support in the developing world.
"Our visit to Moscow is a very important step for achieving a breakthrough in
our international position," Meshaal said.
"This is a visit that has no conditions. We will listen to the position of
Russian officials and we will clarify our own position," he said.
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