Hamas spokesman said Thursday that its Syrian-based leader Khaled Mashaal met with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov before he visited Israel and spoke with Prime Minister Ehud Olmert. Mashaal asked the foreign minister to pressure Israel to open up Gaza crossings, where trade has been halted except for humanitarian shipments. Israel has restricted the flow of goods at the crossings because of continuing rocket attacks from Gaza.
Russia has proposed holding an international conference on the Middle East, similar to that hosted by Washington late last year. Syrian Foreign Minister Walid al-Moallem said Syria will attend the conference if the issue of the Golan Heights is on the agenda.