Hamas on the move!

[Flabbergasted]

http://www.clevelandjewishnews.com/articles/2006/03/10/news/israel/ganalysis0310.txt

Hamas capitalizes on Russian trip as Kadima slides
By: Leslie Susser, Jewish Telegraphic Agency

After a successful visit to Moscow, Hamas leaders claim "the wall” of diplomatic isolation Israel is trying to build around the newly empowered organization is collapsing.

snip

Following talks with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, Hamas leader Khaled Meshaal declared that the organization did not recognize Israel's right to exist and that the internationally accepted "road map” peace plan was no longer relevant.

If the Russians had hoped to score diplomatic points by persuading Hamas to accept the West's conditions for dialogue - recognition of Israel, acceptance of previous Israeli-Palestinian agreements, and repudiation of violence - they failed utterly.


Hamas, however, succeeded in getting a Russian promise to urge the West not to withhold funds earmarked for the Palestinians.

Hamas has had other diplomatic successes. Its leaders have held talks in Turkey and have been invited to South Africa and Venezuela. They also claim some European countries are holding secret contacts with them.

More importantly, European funding for the Palestinians has not yet dried up. The European Union is releasing $143 million in emergency aid to the Palestinians, on the grounds that the Palestinian Authority is on the verge of economic collapse and that Hamas has not yet formally taken the reins of power.

End


In addition to all these contactsas well as funding Hamas is attaining we can expect a good selection of rifles and rocket launchers to be delivered to Hamas via Russia in the near future.

This article indicated Venzuelas atitudes:

http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1139395578659&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull

Venezuela appears to back Iran in nuclear dispute
By ASSOCIATED PRESS
CARACAS, Venezuela


Venezuela on Friday sharply criticized the UN Security Council's involvement in concerns about Iran's nuclear program, saying negotiation should win out over confrontation.