ISRAEL CONDEMNS PUTIN'S "KNIFE IN THE BACK"

Putin Hamas invite ‘knife in the back’: Israel.
JERUSALEM (AFP) - Russian President Vladimir Putin’s decision to invite leaders of the Islamist group Hamas to Moscow is a “knife in the back” for Israel, Education Minister Meir Sheetrit said. “This initiative is a real knife in the back... because it aims to give international legitimacy to a terrorist group and we must oppose it with all our means,” Sheetrit told public radio on Friday.

“What would Moscow say if we invited Chechen representatives (to Jerusalem) in response?” the minister asked. “Putin is dancing with wolves,” charged Housing Minister Zeev Boim in comments carried by the media.

A senior government official, speaking on condition of anonymity Thursday said “the Russians must decide whether they are in the quartet or not.” “When Chechens carry out an attack in Moscow, they call it an act of terror but when it’s in Jerusalem they don’t. Is the blood of Israelis worth less than the blood of Russians?”

OVER DINNER, PUTIN MAY WANT TO ASK HAMAS ABOUT IT'S SUPPORT FOR THE CHECHEN TERRORISTS WHO KILL RUSSIAN CHILDREN:

Hamas Supports Chechen Terrorism
Among the indoctrination materials found in Hamas-influenced institutions in the PA-administered territories were CDs containing posters and movies showing admiration, identification, and support for Chechen and international Islamic terrorism. Chechen terrorist leaders such as Shamil Basayev and "Khattab" are praised, while the Russian Army is held in contempt and its actions are described as "terrorism against the Islamic population of Chechnya." (Intelligence and Terrorism Information Center at the Center for Special Studies)

PUTIN'S COWARDLY, DUPLICITOUS, HYPOCRITICAL ACTIONS SEEM TO HAVE OPENED THE DOOR FOR BETRAYALS BY OTHER COUNTRIES WHOSE FIGHT AGAINST TERROR APPEARS TO EXTEND ONLY TO THEIR OWN NATIONAL BORDERS:

France jumps into diplomatic row to side with Putin’s proposal to invite Hamas to Moscow. Turkey follows suit (DEBKA)
French Foreign Ministry spokesman Denis Simonneau said Friday: "We share with Russia the goal of leading Hamas towards positions that permit reaching the objective of two states living in peace and security." Turkish prime minister Tayyip Erdogan said he too would invite Hamas.

Israeli officials are dismayed by the erosion of the Jan. 30, Quartet decision to make aid conditional on Hamas renouncing violence and recognizing the Jewish state. Hamas has rejected the demand. Russia as a member endorsed this decision.