Boosting ties with Moscow will come at a cost for Hamas
Establishing a relationship with a superpower such as Russia bodes well for Hamas, but Moscow will expect flexibility on the movement's part in return.
A Hamas-Russia rapprochement has recently started to take shape despite the decline in Hamas’ regional and international relations, especially after the outbreak of the Arab Spring revolutions in early 2011.
On May 18, the Russian Foreign Ministry praised Hamas’ new policy document, issued on May 1, which it considered a step in the right direction. It also welcomed the election of Ismail Haniyeh as the head of the movement's political bureau on May 6, replacing Khaled Meshaal.
