Russian President Vladimir Putin has invited the Hamas delegation to visit Moscow. The international community has expressed astonishment, Israel and the US indignation. But why not?

Putin's intention is to break the deadlock and save Hamas from its awkward position. People may say Putin is taking risks or staging a show. It might be a show indeed, but for risks there are none.

History has shown that no matter it is for an international or a neighborhood strife, the fewer mediators are involved, the better since everyone has his or her own calculations and would only make a mess messier. After the 1967 Arab-Israeli War, the two major camps of the United States and the former Soviet Union, together with some non-aligned countries, conducted mediations for about three years and put forward plans one after another. However, their efforts went nowhere. On the contrary, it propelled Arab nations to join hands to launch the fourth Middle East War in 1973. After that, the former Soviet Union was no longer able to draw nations to its side and thus the United States played the role as the sole mediator, the result was peace between Egypt and Israel.

Similarly, the breakthrough in relations between Jordan, Palestine and Israel was achieved not amid the hustle and bustle of the 1991 Madrid Conference, but through secret contacts in a very short time without any mediator. Obviously, the willingness to solve problems from involved parties is the key.

The Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas), upon its unexpected landslide victory in legislative elections late last month, still refuses to recognize Israel or drop its arms. For sure, Israel would not deal with such a group, hence the necessity of foreign intervention.

The intervention this time aimed at better ties between the two sides can be considered a political assault against Hamas which requires numerical strength and collective pressure to force it to change stance. Such pressure, however, has continued for more than two weeks without any result.

With its declaration to never yield to "international blackmail", what will be the meaning for Hamas' victory if it fails to get international recognition, put up a cabinet and find congress partners?

Hamas is reluctant to abandon its program, for in that case it will no longer be Hamas. The just-concluded Hamas-Abbas meeting in Egypt can hardly be counted as a successful one, for Hamas still clings to its stance.

The Hamas act is unrealistic. As long as it sticks to its original program, any of its plan will be crushed under common pressure from the international community.

It is not that Hamas doesn't want to change. Indeed it has changed a lot by participating in political process and refraining from using force for more than a year. But it's simply impossible for Hamas to reach a compromise with Israel via direct contacts, because the latter doesn't answer it at all.

Hamas needs an out, a minimum compromise not asked by Israel. But who will be the person to offer it?

Russian President Vladimir Putin would like to take the lead. All of a sudden he invited Hamas delegation to visit Moscow.

All sides would be happy if Hamas seizes the helping hand. But if it remains stiff-necked, it won't be Putin to be blamed. The president has done his bit and Russia is now again a big role on the stage of Arab-Israeli relations.

Hamas is facing a historic opportunity, and it would be a blessing if the group can catch it and turn itself into a radical religious party in common sense by completely shaking off its terrorist doctrine and activities.

This comment by Yin Gang, research fellow with the Institute of West Asian and African Studies, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences is carried on the front page of People's Daily Overseas Edition, Feb. 14, and is translated by People's Daily Online.

(People's Daily Online February 15, 2006)