(14 Oct 1997) English/Nat
An Orthodox Jewish Rabbi ventured into a Hamas stronghold on Tuesday reportedly carrying a message for Hamas leaders from Israel's chief rabbi.
Rabbi Menachem Fruman reportedly carried a message from Chief Rabbi Bakshi-Doron calling for dialogue and an end to terrorism.
Sheikh Ahmed Yassin, the spiritual leader of the militant Hamas group, met with Fruman in Gaza City.
Rabbi Menachem Fruman, a controversial figure in Israel, met on Tuesday with Sheikh Ahmed Yassin.
Fruman reportedly carried a letter from Bakshi-Doron to the ailing Yassin.
Fruman lives in a Jewish settlement in the West Bank and has been active in forming dialogues with Muslim leaders.
Fruman met with Yassin twice while the Sheikh was jailed in Israel for ordering the deaths of Israeli soldiers.
Yassin's Hamas opposes Israeli-Palestinian peace making and has carried out deadly suicide bombings to try to stop the peace process.
But in jail, the Sheik softened his position and spoke out against violence.
He was recently released by Israel in a prisoner swap.
Yassin thanked Fruman for the visit and said he would pass the letter on to Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat before he comments.
Fruman said the chief rabbi was hoping dialogue would aid the search for peace.
SOUNDBITE: (English)
"The leaders of the religion of Israel and the leaders of the religion of Islam perhaps will solve some of the problems that are difficult to be solved by the political channel.
SUPER CAPTION: Rabbi Menachem Fruman
Earlier hundreds of Yassin's supporters were shocked at the site of Rabbi Fruman in the centre of the Hamas stronghold in the Palestinian-run city.
While waiting in a playground near Yassin's home, Fruman asked bystanders to point him in the direction of Jerusalem.
Then, standing next to a Hamas banner, he broke-out in evening prayer in Hebrew.
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