Top > World > 2006 > February > 2006-02-14

Russians, French Extend Hand to Hamas

Hamas appeared to break out of its international isolation over the weekend as both Russia and France backed talks with the Islamic militants to discuss continued foreign aid to the cash strapped Palestinian Authority (PA). Hamas`s plans to attend talks in Moscow drew initial Israeli accusations of a "slippery slope" toward legitimizing an organization branded as terrorists in the US and Europe.

At a time when Hamas has been struggling to convince the international community of its credentials as a legitimate political movement rather than an underground militia, realigning the Palestinians with Iran`s anti-Western theocracy could harm their cause, analysts say. The Russian overture to Hamas was considered a bid by President Vladimir Putin to differentiate his Middle East policy from that of the US, and insert Moscow as a key player in Israeli-Palestinian peacemaking.

Meanwhile, Iran remains a wild card, believed to be flush with oil money but keeping its distance from the PA because of the Israeli-Palestinian peace accords. And Russia has been negotiating a bit with Iran to try and defuse the crisis over its nuclear program. Hamas is opposed to Israel`s existence. Iran is also opposed to Israel`s existence. And an alliance with Hamas would give Iran new influence with which to pressure Israel. Will it happen?