Russia hosts Hamas chief

Russia hosted the top leader of Hamas. Khaled Meshaal landed in Moscow on Monday for talks that he said would help end a Western aid embargo imposed on the Palestinian Authority since the terrorist group Hamas took power last year. Russia is a member of the diplomatic Quartet overseeing Israeli-Palestinian peace efforts, but has broken with its partners in engaging Hamas diplomatically and speaking out against the embargo. The other Quartet partners — the United States, United Nations and European Union — have stood firm in their demand that Hamas recognize Israel, accept past peace agreements with the Jewish state and renounce terrorism before direct aid can be restored.