Israeli fury at Russian overtures to Hamas

ISRAEL yesterday protested against a plan by Russia to have talks in Moscow with Hamas, the Islamic militant group that swept recent Palestinian elections and whose charter calls for Israel’s destruction.

But Russia stood its ground and predicted other countries would follow its lead in dealing with Hamas.

Israeli President Moshe Katsav said Russian President Vladimir Putin threatened peacemaking prospects if he followed through on his invitation to Hamas to visit after its victory in parliamentary elections on January 25.