Russia spurns Israeli rebuke over Hamas meet

Russia on Thursday defended its contacts with Palestinian Islamist movement Hamas after President Dmitry Medvedev met the group's leader, saying the organization must play a role in peace efforts.

Calling Hamas "a terror organization in every way," Israel's Foreign Ministry said on Wednesday it was "deeply disappointed" that Medvedev met the group's exiled leader Khaled Meshaal during a visit to Syria this week.

Russia, the United States, European Union and the United Nations, make up a quartet of Middle East mediators. The U.S., EU and Israel consider Hamas a terrorist group. Russia insists that Hamas should not be isolated.

"Hamas is not an artificial structure," Russian foreign ministry spokesman Andrei Nesterenko said in a statement. "It is a movement that draws on the trust and sympathy of a large number of Palestinians."

Senior Hamas leader Salah al-Bardawil earlier hailed the step and said "the invitation by Russia and Turkey to include the movement in the political process reflects the true political weight of the movement."

"Recognition of the legitimacy of Hamas will increase to include other countries besides Russia," he said.

The Russian president, who met Meshaal in Damascus Tuesday, later said that no group should be excluded from peace efforts.

"Issues related to the reestablishment of Palestinian unity as an indispensable condition for the success of Israeli-Palestinian negotiations were at the centre of the meeting," Nesterenko said.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov on Thursday briefed Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas on the meeting in Damascus, the foreign ministry said.

During the meeting with Meshaal, Medvedev called for the quick release of captured Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit, held by Hamas in the Gaza Strip for nearly four years. Hamas later dismissed the Russian pressure and said Shalit would not be set free without an "honorable" prisoner exchange deal with Israel.

Recognition of the legitimacy of Hamas will increase to include other countries besides Russia

Salah al-Bardawil, Hamas