Hopes_Guevara
11th February 2006, 04:01
By Adam Entous
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.
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."
What do you think of Hamas? Do you think if it is a terrorist body? And does Israel have right to exist?
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.
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."
What do you think of Hamas? Do you think if it is a terrorist body? And does Israel have right to exist?