Russian MFA expresses concern over escalation in Palestinian-Israeli conflict zone

05 July 2023

The Russian Ministry of foreign affairs has expressed deep concern regarding the recent escalation in the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, specifically addressing Israel's operation in the city of Jenin on the West Bank. In a statement issued on Wednesday, the ministry stated that Moscow is deeply troubled by the situation.

 

According to incoming information, the Israeli army operation that began on July 3 in Jenin resulted in the death of 10 Palestinians and over a hundred wounded. The ministry emphasized that these events highlight "the inability of the conflict parties to break the cycle of violence and resume constructive dialogue, which has been interrupted for nearly a decade since the failure of Washington's monopolistic role in organizing direct political negotiations between Israelis and Palestinians on final status issues."

 

The Russian foreign ministry further expressed concern that "the current escalation not only hinders the prospects for a Palestinian-Israeli settlement, but also poses a significant threat to regional stability as a whole."

 

Regarding the Middle East settlement, the ministry underscored the stagnation of external diplomatic efforts in the conflict zone. It reminded of Russia's proposal to "convene a consultative meeting involving Russia, the Arab League leadership, and a group of Middle Eastern states actively involved in the Middle East settlement, aimed at coordinating approaches to establish necessary conditions for a sustainable Palestinian-Israeli peace process."

 

The ministry highlighted the importance of coordination between key players and referred to historical practice where problems in the Middle East have been resolved through coordinated positions based on legitimate national interests of the regional states.

 

"Further delay by the international community could lead to irreversible degradation of the situation on the ground and undermine the legal basis of the Middle East settlement, as approved by the international community, including UN Security Council resolutions, the Madrid principles, the Arab Peace Initiative, and the principle of two states, Palestine and Israel, coexisting in peace and security," the foreign ministry warned.

 

In conclusion, the Russian diplomatic mission reiterated Russia's consistent and unchanged position, which supports the creation of an independent Palestinian state within the 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital. It emphasized the urgent need for the unification of all Palestinian political forces under the platform of the Palestine Liberation Organization as a prerequisite for achieving this objective.

 

 

GSV "Russia - Islamic world"

Photo: Russian Foreign Ministry

Based on materials from TASS