Hamas-Russia meeting in Doha riles PA
The Palestinian Authority has accused Hamas of going over its head in meeting with Russian officials about the US peace plan.
A senior Hamas delegation met with Russia’s Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov in Doha Feb. 18. The meeting was focused on the Palestinian objection to the US peace plan and the UN Security Council and relevant General Assembly resolutions as well as the Arab Peace Initiative.
The Russian delegation was led by Bogdanov, who also serves as the special representative of President Vladimir Putin in the Middle East and Africa, and Russian Ambassador to Doha Nur Muhammad Kholov.
Hamas' delegation to Doha was led by the head of its international office, Mousa Abu Marzouq, political bureau member Sami Khater and former Hamas leader Khaled Meshaal.
In a statement, Hamas reported that it asserted to the Russian delegation its rejection of Washington’s peace plan, which is detrimental to the Palestinian people, their legitimate right to return and the efforts to establish an independent sovereign Palestinian state. The two delegations held in-depth talks about restoring Palestinian national unity.
