From: "Rich Gauszka" 


"Adam" <""4thwormcastfromthemolehill\"{at}the
field.near the bridge"> wrote in message
news:43dfcb5e{at}w3.nls.net...
> http://www.haaretzdaily.com/hasen/spages/676654.html
>
> "The world should not cut off aid to the Palestinians after Hamas's
> shock victory in the Palestinian legislative election, Russian President
> Vladimir Putin said on Tuesday.
>
> "The election of Hamas was a great blow to American efforts in the
> Middle East. A very serious blow," he told a news conference.
>
> Hamas should "refrain from extremist declarations, acknowledge Israel's
> right to exist and put its contacts with the international community in
> order," Putin said.
>
> "Russia has never declared Hamas a terrorist organization, but it
> doesn't mean we support and accept everything Hamas has done and all the
> statements it has made."
>
> Putin said Russia, a member of the Quartet, expected Hamas to recognize
> Israel's existence and abandon its radical position, but that it would
> not support cutting off aid to the Palestinians.
>
> "A refusal to help the Palestinian people would be mistaken," he said.
>
> Putin called on Hamas to engage in peaceful dialogue, and said Russia's
> position on the Middle East differed from that of the United States and
> Europe."
>
> East splits from west....
>
>
> Interesting
>
> Adam

Meethinks Putin has his own problems with Islamic organizations from
Chechnya, Dagestan, Kabardino-Balkaria, North Ossetia  to Tatarstan. Does
this mean Putin will refrain from bombing Islamic rebel bases in Chechnya
from now on ?

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