Israel protests to Russia over Hamas leader Meshal's visit

Just days before Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's scheduled visit to Moscow, Hamas political leader Khaled Meshal made his own trip to meet with Russian officials.

Israel sent a letter of protest to Moscow prior to the Hamas delegation's visit, which began on Monday, choosing to keep its disapproval quiet rather than publicly summoning the Russian envoy.

Instead, Israel asked Moscow to clarify its intentions. Initial reports predicted that Meshal would meet with Russian President Dimirtry Medvedev or Prime Minister Vladmir Putin ? talks which would signal upgraded ties between Moscow and the Hanmas movement,

Russia denied those intentions and said that Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov was the highest-level official Meshal would meet.

Israel then dispatched another message, this time to the Russian ambassador, in which it expressed it concern over the implications the visit may have on attempts to see Middle East peace talks re-launched.

The Russian ambassador assured Israel that the visit did not signal a swing in Moscow's policy toward Hamas, and said that Lavrov would reiterate its stance that the Islamist movement must abide by United Nations' conditions to recognize Israel, give up violence and honor past peace accords.

During his visit on Monday, Meshal declared that he sees no prospects for a Middle East peace settlement, telling reporters during a visit to Moscow that Israel's continued military offensives and occupation made such an agreement impossible.

"I don't see any prospects on the Palestinian, the Syrian or any other track of the Middle East process because the Israeli leadership is a leadership of war, aggression and occupation."

He accused Washington of retracting demands on Israel and charged Europe had been unable to make Israel abide by commitments.

His statement leaves in doubt Moscow's desire to host a Middle East peace conference and to involve Hamas, despite strong opposition from Israel and the U.S. Russia is part of the Quartet of Mideast peace brokers with the U.S., the European Union and the United Nations.

After their meeting, Meshal praised Moscow's position to promote his group's stance in relations with Israel. "It's enough that Moscow tells the world that Hamas is a movement of freedom fighters, not a terrorist group," he told journalists.

The U.S. and the European Union list Hamas as a terrorist group.

Russia has repeatedly called for an end to the blockade of the Gaza Strip that was imposed by Israel after Hamas wrested control there in June 2007.

Moscow sees Hamas as an integral part of the peace process despite strong opposition from Israel and the U.S., which list the organization as a terrorist group. Russia has repeatedly called for an end to the blockade of the Hamas-ruled Gaza Strip.

Meshal said that during his talks with Russian officials he did not discuss plans to include Hamas in a peace conference.

He said the visit was his third trip to Moscow since 2006, and he expressed hope that Moscow's mediation would boost the renewal of peace talks.

The Kremlin irked Israel and Western nations by inviting Meshal to Russia, and observers said the talks were part of an effort by Moscow to regain the clout and influence it enjoyed in the Middle East during the Soviet era.

Meshal, however, downplayed Moscow's political role in the talks.

"We appreciate any role that Russia and other countries could play in the Mideast peace process, but only Egypt has the real capability to settle the problem," he said.

	Hamas leader Khaled Meshal
	Photo by: (AP)