Posted on 02/09/2006 5:42:52 PM PST by Sabramerican
Welcome bear hug By Arnon Regular
Russian President Vladimir Putin's announcement that he would be willing to meet with Hamas leaders did not come as a complete surprise to Hamas, which is currently on a drive to obtain international legitimacy for its future government. Within 24 hours after Hamas won the Palestinian elections, its leaders had identified the Russian-Chinese axis, as well as a few European countries, as the place to concentrate its efforts to soften the stringent conditions for acceptance by the international community that are currently being set by the United States, Israel, Egypt and Jordan.
Nevertheless, even Hamas was surprised to receive a direct invitation to its leaders from Putin. After all, Russia is a member of the Quartet, and the ink is not yet dry on the Quartet's proclamation that "there is a fundamental contradiction between armed group and militia activities and the building of a democratic state. A two-state solution to the conflict requires all participants in the democratic process to renounce violence and terror, accept Israel's right to exist, and disarm, as outlined in the road map."
Putin's invitation is evidence of the split in the international community, and Hamas is trying to exploit this split to soften the demands that it recognize Israel and accept existing agreements between Israel and the Palestinians.
(Excerpt) Read more at haaretz.com ...
Russia is obviously a good friend to Israel.
And so is the US which is a party to forcing the Road Map down Israel's throat.
George W Bush has looked into Putin soul and seen nice things.
The Israelis have accepted the Road Map and are bending over asking please for another.
Everything's fine in the World except for some trouble over cartoons.
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PING
Is anyone really surprised by this?
The KGB bankrolled Arafat, read Ion Pacepa's column "The KGB's Man" (full link to WSJ)
http://littlegreenfootballs.com/weblog/?entry=8286&only
Thanks for saying that. Some people seem to think Russia is going to help things...BS. Could mean big trouble for Israel. Welcome to Ezekial 38??
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