Hamas' Russia visit: Israel calm
Russia says it will host Hamas delegation Friday, EU announces transfer of huge sum of money to PA, but Foreign Minister Livni doesn't sound concerned. Money transfer was expected, Russians promised to stick to international community, Quartet's stance on Hamas, she says
A senior Russian official said that the country's Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov may be the one to welcome the delegation, to be headed by Hamas Politburo Chief Khaled Mashaal.
"The visit will be a very important one," a Russian envoy said, but noted it is unclear whether Hamas will be able to renounce its principles and agree to international demands to recognize Israel, renounce violence, and honor agreements signed by the Palestinian Authority.
Israel is unpleased about the visit, but Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni made it clear that in talks held between Israel and Moscow, as well as Turkey, the two countries stressed they will make sure to follow the Quartet's and the international community's policy on Hamas.
Responding to a question during a Ynet forum Monday, Livni said "there was no sudden change in the international community's policy." The minister stressed the American position has not been hampered as well, but noted that Israel believes Russia's meeting with Hamas is unnecessary and may be misinterpreted by the Palestinians.
Meanwhile, in an interview with Ynet, Livni said the international community's fight against Hamas is not hampered by the latest fund transfer from the European Union to the Palestinian Authority.
"The announcement regarding the transfer of USD 142 million corresponds to the EU position that as long as it's a transitional government and not a Hamas government, they transfer the money directly," Livni said. "I suppose that in the future the international community will make a distinction regarding direct fund transfers to the Hamas government, which have to stop."
"We made it clear at the time when we announced our decision to curb fund transfers to the PA that we understand the international community's position, because this entire question will come to an end in two or three weeks, upon the establishment of a Hamas government," she said.
Addressing demands voiced by Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh regarding a Palestinian right of return, Livni said "the Israeli principle talks about two states for two peoples, in the full sense of the world. Our main objective is to maintain Israel as the national home of the Jewish people and we're willing to accept the establishment of another nation state if it constitutes a full and absolute solution to the Palestinians wherever they are – those who are in Judea, Samaria and Gaza, and those who left in 1948 and are held as bargaining chips, as refugees, under shameful humanitarian conditions."
