Israel slammed Russia for inviting HAMAS leaders for talks, describing the initiative as a “knife in the back”, AFP reported.
On Thursday, the Russian President invited HAMAS leaders to Moscow, saying that it was time for the world to accept the results of the Palestinian polls.
Top HAMAS official Ismail Haniyeh welcomed Putin’s invitation, saying that the group is open to talks with all countries. "Our leadership will travel to Islamic and Arab countries and to the communist countries to talk about the internal situation among the Palestinian people," he said.
France also backed the initiative as potentially positive for the Middle East peace process. The offer "may contribute to advancing our positions," foreign ministry spokesman Denis Simonneau said.
But Russia’s decision angered the United States and Israel, which urges the international community to isolate HAMAS as it prepares for forming a new Palestinian government following its landslide victory in last month’s elections.
"This initiative is a real knife in the back... because it aims to give international legitimacy to a terrorist group and we must oppose it with all our means," Education Minister Meir Sheetrit told public radio on Friday.
"What would Moscow say if we invited Chechen representatives (to Jerusalem) in response?" Sheetrit asked.
The United States and the European Union, who both brand HAMAS a “terrorist” group, refuse to deal with the resistance movement until it recognizes Israel’s right to exist and give up anti-Israeli attacks. But Russia, who together with the U.S., EU and UN make up the so-called Middle East Quartet, doesn’t classify HAMAS a terrorist group.
Russian officials defended Putin’s decision, saying that Moscow would ask HAMAS to recognize Israel and explain the approaches of the Quartet. Defense Minister Sergei Ivanov predicted other countries would follow suit.
"I'm not afraid to predict that sometime in the future many leading states, and I'm thinking in particular about the quartet, will start supporting HAMAS contacts... to make clear to HAMAS authorities (their) attitudes... toward the Middle East settlement," he said.
But a commentary in Israel’s top-selling daily Yedioth Aharanot described the Russians’ explanation for the invitation as "cynical, baseless and particularly infuriating”.
However, one Israeli analyst said that Israel can benefit from Putin's talks with HAMAS if the Russian leader persuades the resistance group to accept the Quartet’s demands.
"Even if Israel is officially against it, it is not so catastrophic," Amnon Sella, a professor of international relations at Hebrew University in Jerusalem, told AFP. "It could provide certain benefits for Israel.”
On Thursday, the Russian President invited HAMAS leaders to Moscow, saying that it was time for the world to accept the results of the Palestinian polls.
Top HAMAS official Ismail Haniyeh welcomed Putin’s invitation, saying that the group is open to talks with all countries. "Our leadership will travel to Islamic and Arab countries and to the communist countries to talk about the internal situation among the Palestinian people," he said.
France also backed the initiative as potentially positive for the Middle East peace process. The offer "may contribute to advancing our positions," foreign ministry spokesman Denis Simonneau said.
But Russia’s decision angered the United States and Israel, which urges the international community to isolate HAMAS as it prepares for forming a new Palestinian government following its landslide victory in last month’s elections.
"This initiative is a real knife in the back... because it aims to give international legitimacy to a terrorist group and we must oppose it with all our means," Education Minister Meir Sheetrit told public radio on Friday.
"What would Moscow say if we invited Chechen representatives (to Jerusalem) in response?" Sheetrit asked.
The United States and the European Union, who both brand HAMAS a “terrorist” group, refuse to deal with the resistance movement until it recognizes Israel’s right to exist and give up anti-Israeli attacks. But Russia, who together with the U.S., EU and UN make up the so-called Middle East Quartet, doesn’t classify HAMAS a terrorist group.
Russian officials defended Putin’s decision, saying that Moscow would ask HAMAS to recognize Israel and explain the approaches of the Quartet. Defense Minister Sergei Ivanov predicted other countries would follow suit.
"I'm not afraid to predict that sometime in the future many leading states, and I'm thinking in particular about the quartet, will start supporting HAMAS contacts... to make clear to HAMAS authorities (their) attitudes... toward the Middle East settlement," he said.
But a commentary in Israel’s top-selling daily Yedioth Aharanot described the Russians’ explanation for the invitation as "cynical, baseless and particularly infuriating”.
However, one Israeli analyst said that Israel can benefit from Putin's talks with HAMAS if the Russian leader persuades the resistance group to accept the Quartet’s demands.
"Even if Israel is officially against it, it is not so catastrophic," Amnon Sella, a professor of international relations at Hebrew University in Jerusalem, told AFP. "It could provide certain benefits for Israel.”
