At UN HRC session in Geneva, Russia calls for direct Palestinian-Israeli dialogue

28 May 2021



Russia welcomes the ceasefire in the zone of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict and calls for direct dialogue to resolve fundamental issues on a legal basis. The Russian delegation said this on Thursday at a special session of the UN Human Rights Council (HRC) held in Geneva on the situation of rights and freedoms in the occupied Palestinian territories and Israel.


As Russian Deputy Permanent Representative to the UN Office and other international organizations in Geneva Nikita Zhukov noted in his speech at the session, "direct Palestinian-Israeli dialogue is needed to resolve fundamental issues on a known international legal basis." "Russia, as a permanent member of the UN Security Council and a member of the Quartet, calls on partners to continue vigorous collective work for the resumption of direct constructive Palestinian-Israeli dialogue," the diplomat stressed.


He drew attention to the fact that "developments in this part of the Middle East are fraught with further escalation and destabilization of the entire region." "In this regard, Russia welcomes the ceasefire in the zone of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict. We hope that it will be long-term. We note the mediatory role of Egypt and the special role of the Jordanian monarchy with regard to the Islamic holy places in Jerusalem, whose status quo must be respected," said the deputy head of the Russian mission. He recalled that "Russia has also carried out relevant work both with the Israelis and Palestinians and with their neighbors in the region." "Now it seems important to maintain the truce and ensure the delivery of humanitarian aid to those who need it, primarily to the Gaza Strip," Zhukov concluded.


The special session of the HRC was convened at the joint request of Pakistan, the coordinator of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, and the State of Palestine. Sixty-eight states expressed their support for the session. As a result, a resolution calling for the establishment of an independent international commission of inquiry into human rights violations in the occupied Palestinian territories and Israel was adopted.

 

 

GSV "Russia - Islamic World"

Based on materials from TASS