Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, in an exclusive interview with TASS reflecting on 2023, underscored the imperative need to break the cycle of violence in the Palestinian-Israeli conflict. Lavrov condemned the unacceptable nature of justifying and, worse, encouraging terrorist attacks, emphasizing that responding with collective punishment violates international humanitarian law.
"It is necessary to break the vicious circle of violence, to eliminate the injustice that has plagued several generations of Palestinians," Lavrov affirmed, emphasizing that this approach is pivotal for achieving stability in the Palestinian-Israeli confrontation and the broader Middle East region.
Lavrov criticized the attempts of behind-the-scenes diplomacy, particularly attributing this to the US, stating, "It is time for everyone to learn a lesson from what the US attempts to play behind-the-scenes diplomacy in the Middle East have resulted in." He criticized Washington's approach, accusing it of monopolizing mediation efforts and undermining the international legal basis for a settlement, contributing to the escalation in the conflict zone.
Highlighting Russia's position, Lavrov stated that "it aligns with the decisions of the UN Security Council and General Assembly, along with the Arab Peace Initiative." He reiterated the well-known formula for lasting peace involving the establishment of an independent Palestinian state within the 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital, coexisting peacefully and securely with Israel. Lavrov emphasized the role of international mediators in facilitating dialog for the parties to resolve all disputed issues.
The minister acknowledged that "this is not an easy task." "But the alternative to negotiations is ongoing bloodshed. Without a political horizon, Israelis and Palestinians will continue to experience escalation after escalation, as has been happening for the past 75 years," Lavrov concluded.
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Photo: Russian Foreign Ministry
Based on materials from TASS