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Show Saturday, February 11, 2006 | DAILY HERALD Israeli officials criticize Russia for inviting support for the diplomat. Hamas leaders to visit Josef Federman ‘THE ASSOCIATEDPRESS ; An Israeli Cabinet minister on Friday accused Russian President Vladimir Putin of “stabbing Israel'in the back” for inviti Hamas militants to Moscow following their decisive victory in: Palestinian elections, The invitation is Russia’s latest attempt to assert itself .in Mideast diplomacy. France expressed Support for the Russian plan, which breaks with the U.S. and European position of not dealing with Hamas until itrenounces violence and recognizesIsrael's right toexist. Putin further angered Israel on Thursday by saying he did not consider Hamas, whichhas killed hundreds ofIsraelis in suicide attacks, to be aterrorist group. In Washington, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice urged Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov on Friday to send aclear, strong message in any meetings with Hamas officials that the militant group must stopterror attacks onIsrael. Despite the controversy, France expressed hope the Rus- © sian overture could help lead Hamas toward acceptance of a two-state solution to the IsraeliPalestinian conflict. But Foreign Ministry esman Denis ‘Simonneau reiterated that the Palestinian militant group must renounce violence recognize Israel. In an interview with The Associated Press,Israeli Cabinet Minister Meir Sheetrit of the centrist ima Party called Putin’s remarks an “international scandal” that amounted to “stabbing Israelin the back.” His comments were echoed by otherseniorIsraeli politicians. Russia is a member ofthe socalled Quartet of Mideast peace negotiators, along with the U.S., the European Union and the United Nations. The Quartet is the main sponsor of the “road map” peace plan, whichcalls on the Palestinians to disarm militant groups like Hamas as a step toward creating an independentstate. Sheetrit said the Russian invitation tainted Moscow's attempts at being a Mideast mediator. the lawlessness plaguing Gaza in the wake of Israel's withdrawal from the area in September. Egypt, a key ally of the Palestinians, has been trying to broker the formation of a new Palestinian government follawing Hamas's victory in legislhtive elections last month. | The Egyptian was the first diplomat n.* “~d amid a recent spate of kidnappings, and the abduction was the most seri- ey Frey1s the seein an diplomat in the Spthe efor, and demanded the of Palestinian criminals held in - aScaling itself the Al Ahrar Brigades, whose ous attack on diplomatsin the werenot released within 48 hours.It did not elaborate. The authenticity of the statement,first obtained by the AlJazeerasatellite channelin Gaza City, could not be verified. Major militant groups in Gaza, including those who have carried out other kidnappings in recent months, have condemned y’s abduction. In Cairo, Egyptian security officials claimed there are no Palestinians in Egyptian jails andsaid they were in contact withtheir Palestinian counterparts to assess whether the claim of responsibility was genuine. Mushir al-Masri, a spokes- KHALIL HAMRAAssociated Press Palestinian demonstrators hold black Islamic Jihad and Egyptian flags during a demonstration in Gaza City on Friday. Khader Habib,a top Islamic Jihad leader, criticized the kidnapping Thursday of an Egyptian diplomatin GazaCity, saying those behind the “criminal” attack did not representthe Palestinians. man for the militant group the Egyptian mission in Gaza Hamas,saidlate Friday that City on Thursday after two the group of kidnappers were masked gunmenshot out the using a false name. “This group_ tires ofhis car. is not knowntothe Palestinian Egypt identified him as Huspeople, which confirms that sam Almousaly. there are political reasons beLate Friday, a small group of hind this kidnapping,” he said. Palestinian families gathered The diplomat, Egypt's milioutside the Egyptian mission, tary attache tothe Palestinian _lighting candles and waving Authority, was kidnapped near Egyptian flags in a show of lestinian areas since three! American security guards werekilled whena U.S.diplomatic convoy was hit by a bomb in October 2003. Egyptis holding “dozens” ofPalestinians in its jails, the Statementsaid, adding that | most of those detained face charges of crossing the border illegally — manyofthem in the chaotic aftermathofIsrael's withdrawalfrom Gaza — or of criminalactivity in Egypt. The prisoners face “humiliating conditions and toughtor} ture”in the prisons, the group saic Manyrecent Gaza kidnappings have been carried out by small groups seeking the release ofrelatives fromjail, jobs or other personal favors. 6 cations. A % 98 2 g “2 24.99-74.99 $150.» yy pier OFF 14K GOLD PME my * 50% s2D8S% weras Zesopnee VALENTINE’S DAY IS TUESDAY * SHOP TODAY 8AM-11PM —_—. n 50% OFF SALE 14,99-49.99 Reg. $30-$100. Ww et 1/8 CARAT T.W. DIAMOND PENDANTS -. ~~ x Best Buy 24.99. Set in 24k gold oversterling or anil tone over sterling. 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