Russia is concerned about new clashes between Israelis and Palestinians in East Jerusalem, which could get out of control, Alexander Repkin, Russia's Representative to the UN Security Council, said on Thursday.
"Unfortunately, according to reports, tensions in East Jerusalem, namely in the Sheikh Jarrah neighborhood and around the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound are not subsiding," he said. - "There and in other areas of the West Bank, there are clashes between Palestinians and Israelis. At any moment, the situation may get out of control".
The Russian diplomat also said that Moscow's concern is caused by the growing rate of issuing permits for housing construction on the Palestinian territory. "In this connection, we call on both sides to show restraint and on the new Israeli government to refrain from unilateral steps to create irreversible realities "on the ground," Repkin pointed out. - : We believe it is important to cement the still fragile cessation of hostilities through the mediation of regional partners, especially our Egyptian friends."
The Russian representative once again called on the international community to unite its efforts to resolve the Middle East conflict. "In the interests of achieving long-term stabilization of the situation, which is possible only if the Palestinian issue is resolved fairly on an international legal basis, including UN resolutions, we intend to continue efforts to launch a Palestinian-Israeli direct dialogue," he said. - "We call on our Quartet colleagues (Russia, the US, the EU, and the UN - TASS) to consider our well-known initiatives, including holding a meeting in an expanded format with the participation of regional states".
Tensions in Sheikh Jarrah and the area of the Temple Mount in East Jerusalem erupted in April over Israeli authorities' plans to transfer the homes of eight Arab families, located 500 meters from the al-Aqsa Mosque, to Jewish settlers who allegedly owned the homes before 1948. The Israeli Supreme Court was scheduled to hear on May 10, which was expected to uphold the lower court's decision, but it did not take place and was postponed due to the escalating conflict between the Jewish state and Palestinian groups from the Gaza Strip. As a result of the hostilities, radicals fired over 4,000 rockets into Israel and the Israeli military responded by bombing hundreds of targets in the coastal enclave. On the night of May 21, a ceasefire between the sides came into effect as a result of active shuttle diplomacy by Egyptian mediators. In the Gaza Strip, 257 people were killed during the 11 days of escalating conflict, while on the Israeli side at least 13 people were victims of bombardment.
GSV "Russia - Islamic World"
Photo: Creative Commons
Based on materials from TASS