The militant Islamic group, Hamas, has said it will continue to refuse to recognise the state of Israel despite pressure from Russia to do so at talks which are taking place in Moscow.
Hamas won recent elections in the Palestinian territories, but is regarded by the United States and EU as a terrorist group.
The Russian Foreign Minister, Sergei Lavrov, has been trying to convince Hamas of transforming itself into a political organisation.
However, the group's deputy political leader, Moussa Abu Marzouk, said that recognition of Israel would negate all Palestinian rights and was therefore out of the question.
The talks are the first between Hamas and one of the Middle East mediator nations.
