Vladimir Putin's invitation to Hamas leaders to talks in Moscow shows the same readiness to smash foreign policy taboos as his support, after the 2001 September 11 terror attacks, for US military bases in former Soviet central Asia. Yet the Russian president's gamble is much bigger this time.

Rather than just enraging his own hardline military advisers as in 2001, Mr Putin has vexed Russia's partners in the quartet of Middle East peace negotiators - the European Union, United Nations and, above all, the US. Israel has accused Moscow of betrayal. Only France is supportive.