The Russians, of course, don’t see the ideological kinship between the Palestinians and the jihadists who are threatening them. But why not?
From AFP, :
MOSCOW – Russia will push for the lifting of an economic embargo against the Palestinian government, Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Tuesday during a visit by Hamas political director Khaled Meshaal.
“˜We are striving to have the international community support the peace process and make it irrevocable, including helping end the blockade” against the Palestianian government, Lavrov told journalists.
The so-called Middle East diplomatic Quartet — Russia, the United States, the European Union and the United Nations — imposed the sanctions after Hamas took control of the Palestinian government in elections last January and refused to recognize Israel or renounce violence.
Meshaal met Lavrov on the second day of a visit to Moscow aimed at marshalling support to lift the crippling sanctions, and said Russia was the next logical destination after Hamas and rival party Fatah struck a power-sharing agreement in Mecca earlier this month.
“˜From the very beginning we wanted to make Moscow the first place we visited after the talks in Mecca in order to consult with you about steps that need to be taken after the Mecca agreement,” Meshaal said.