Russia Invites Hamas to Peace Process

Discussions with Hamas scheduled by Russia next month aim to include the group in the delicate peace process of the Middle-East.

Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said that the negotiations will also include the United States, the United Nations and the European Union. This will startle the Western countries, which consider Hamas to be a terrorist organization and with which they will refuse any relations until they recognize Israel.

The meeting, which is said to take place in the first week of March, is not designed to pressure Hamas in any way; it is up to them to make a decision on what fits the interests of the Palestinian people. Russia, as the only country in the previously mentioned quartet, can now act as a mediator between the two sides.

"We need to recognise that Hamas has come to power as a result of a legitimate election and we need to respect the will of the Palestinian people," Putin declared recently, "to burn bridges would be the simplest action, but it lacks perspective."

Also, Russian Defence Minister Sergei Ivanov declared that his country is willing to supply military weapons to the Palestinian Authority, with the agreement of Israel. This announcement comes after the attempt of the Palestinian Authority to buy last year military hardware.

Mark Regev, on behalf of the Israeli Foreign Ministry, declared "We welcome the Russian statement that they are re-evaluating and they expect to continue any such future cooperation also in coordination with us".

Russia previously received criticism from the Western countries when it helped the Iranians to build a nuclear plant and sold weapons and missiles to Tehran.