Russia Gets Connected to Hamas
Israeli Minister of Foreign Affairs Tzipi Livni met with Russian President Vladimir Putin and her Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov in Moscow yesterday. Just like Kommersant predicted, Moscow promised to help liberate Israeli soldier captured by Palestinian extremists on June 25. However, Russia asked Israel to make concessions to Palestine in exchange for Moscow’s help.
“I hesitated whether to visit Russia in this moment or not, but eventually decided to come, because the role of Russia in this situation might be very important,” said Tzipi Livni before negotiations with Sergey Lavrov. Livni meant the crisis around taking Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit hostage over a week ago.
Although Israel always opposed Russia’s contacts with Hamas leaders, it decided to make use of them, since they already exist. When Moscow invited Hamas delegation, it tried to persuade the West that such contacts might prove useful in the future, and that the isolation of extremist Hamas does not bring positive results. So, Sergey Lavrov was obliged to promise help to Israel yesterday.
At the same time, Moscow put forth a number of counter-conditions. Russia asked Israel to make concessions to Palestine and release a part of Palestinian prisoners from Israel’s jails, in exchange for releasing Gilad Shalit.
Livni discussed another issue with Lavrov, which was of primary importance before the hostage taking crisis. Livni presented new political plan of Ehud Olmert, according to which Israel will leave the major part of West Bank of the Jordan River if these new borders receive international recognition, and this will end claims to Israel to make new concessions.
“I expect Russia to give up old historic images of Middle East conflicts, and analyse what for Israel strives. I believe we can enlist support in this case. I would not want the terrorists like Hamas to be able to veto peace or peace talks at least,” said Tzipi Livni.
Olga Berezintseva; Grigory Asmolov, Jerusalem
All the Article in Russian as of July 04, 2006
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