Hamas political leader Khaled Meshaal arrived in Moscow on Monday for talks with Russian officials. The Palestinians hope Russia will help lift the economic blockade on the Palestinian government, he stated on Monday.
“We appreciate Russia’s role very highly. This role is very important,” he stressed, according to ITAR-TASS. “We hope Russia will be able to persuade the international community to lift the blockade, clamped down on the people of Palestine,” the Damascus-based leader added.
“The Hamas representatives appreciate Russia’s stand and are planning to discuss in Moscow the Fatah-Hamas agreements, reached in Mecca,” Meshaal noted. “These agreements are a very important step, which should put an end to the blockade. We hope the Arab nations will back us. It is necessary to guarantee a political atmosphere, contributing to the establishment of a Palestinian State. Pressure should be brought to bear on Israel to make Tel Aviv recognize the right of the Palestinians to build up their own state,” he conveyed.
Mashaal called on the international “Quartet” to conduct negotiations with Israel. “At present, Israel is occupying Palestinian lands and the people of Palestine lack their own state. The ‘Quartet’ should negotiate with Israel, not with us,” Meshaal declared.
“All the sides should respect the Mecca agreements,” the Hamas leader stated. “These accords are a very important step, which should put an end to the blockade. I hope the Arab nations will back us,” he noted.
