Russian Roulette with Hamas

But Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov violated those conditions himself by meeting with Hamas leader Khaled Mashaal in Damascus. “It was the first very important step on the way to overcoming the present stagnation in the negotiations process,” Lavrov said..”The two main aims are to stop Israel's current policy on the settlements and, from the Palestinian side, to rebuild and reunite the people,” he said, referring to the ongoing split between Fatah and Hamas that has destroyed any hope of progress in peace talks.

The violence, intimidation, and rejectionism of Hamas did not appear to be at the top of Lavrov’s agenda. Far from pressuring Hamas to change its hardline stance, Lavrov chided the international community for its failure to talk to Hamas and even praised the terror group for its realism and flexibility.

Excerpts from an article by The Media Line