France on Friday endorsed Russia's decision to conduct talks on the Middle East conflict with Hamas, the radical Islamist Palestinian group, saying the discussion "can contribute to advancing our positions."
Other European countries distanced themselves from the French statement, which appeared to be in defiance of the US and European view that Hamas is a terrorist organization and therefore should not be recognized.
Israel condemned it. But the US took a more cautious approach.
"Our position is not to tell the whole world that they can't talk to Hamas," said a senior State Department official, speaking on the condition of anonymity. "That would be hard to enforce. The issue is less who's talking than what they are saying."
On Thursday, Russian President Vladimir Putin said he was considering inviting Hamas, the winner of the Palestinian parliamentary elections on Jan. 25, to Moscow for talks, and on Friday the Kremlin confirmed that it would do so. Putin's remarks took the Bush administration and European leaders by surprise.
Israel reacted to the Russian decision with fury on Friday. Transportation Minister Meir Sheetrit called the Putin invitation "a real knife in the back."
Meanwhile, in Washington, State Department spokesman Sean McCormack said Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice telephoned Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov on Friday and was reassured to hear that the Russians would deliver a "clear, strong message" to Hamas.
The US considers Hamas a terrorist group, and US officials are forbidden to talk to the organization. The EU's policy on talks is not as clear, several officials and diplomats said in interviews. But none said their countries would talk with Hamas.
Foreign minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier of Germany is due to go to Israel and the Palestinian territories today, but a German official insisted, "He is definitely not going to talk to Hamas."
A French diplomat said France "won't have contacts with Hamas," despite its statement of support for the Russian talks.
Speaking to reporters in Paris on Friday, Denis Simonneau, France's deputy Foreign Ministry spokesman, said Russia had not informed European leaders of its intent to talk with Hamas. Still, he added, "we share with Russia the goal to bring Hamas to the positions which allow us to reach the goal of two states living in peace and security."
"As long as we remain within the framework of the goals and principles that we have set for ourselves," he added, "we consider that this initiative can contribute to advancing our positions" -- specifically that Hamas disarm, renounce violence, recognize Israel and respect previous agreements made with Israel.
Sabbath had begun in Israel by the time the French position became known in Jerusalem on Friday. But Daniel Ayalon, the Israeli ambassador to Washington, said in an interview, "I wish they would not have said anything about having a dialogue with terrorists."
Israeli officials in Jerusalem were less restrained when speaking on Friday about the Russian decision.
Housing Minister Zeev Boim said, "Putin is dancing with wolves," and a headline in the popular tabloid Yediot Aharonot read "Anger in Israel: Putin Is Spitting in Our Face."
Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni, returning from New York on Friday, warned of a "slippery slope" and said, "Every sign of weakness and of recognition will be interpreted by Hamas as legitimizing terror."
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