Hamas, in Moscow, firm on not recognizing Israel
(Reuters)
Updated: 2006-03-03 14:52

PALESTINIAN REVOLT

Hamas, whose charter calls for the Jewish state's destruction, has masterminded 60 suicide bombings during a Palestinian revolt but has largely abided by a truce declared last year which paved the way for Israel's withdrawal from Gaza.

While so far ruling out permanent coexistence, Hamas has said it could accept a long-term ceasefire if Israel also quits all of the occupied West Bank and accepts an influx of Palestinian war refugees -- both non-starters for Israel.

"We want to have peace in the region, but peace will not be achieved before the removal of the occupation," Meshaal said.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov is expected to head Moscow's delegation in talks with Hamas, which will be closely monitored by Washington, the road map's chief patron.

"Our position is that if you are going to meet with a terrorist group, you should make it clear to them that their way of doing business is unacceptable, that their philosophy is contrary to the norms of the civilized world, and that they should get with the program," U.S. State Department deputy spokesman Adam Ereli said.

By inviting Hamas to Moscow, President Vladimir Putin is seen as trying to boost Russia's diplomatic clout in the Middle East, on the wane since the Soviet Union fell.

Russia has also been trying to defuse the crisis over Iran's nuclear program, by proposing that Iranian uranium enrichment -- a process that can produce bombs -- takes place on its soil.