Lavrov names key to peace in Middle East
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov reiterated that the most important prerequisite for peace in the Middle East is the formation of a Palestinian state with its capital in East Jerusalem. However, the diplomat admitted that the resolution of the conflict was still a long way off.
Moscow has reaffirmed its support for a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Although Russia will never agree to an agreement that violates Israel’s security, a Palestinian state must be formed, said Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov.
The chief diplomat emphasized that this was about the creation of a Palestinian state “in accordance with the decisions of the UN Security Council.”
According to Lavrov, it must be an indivisible, independent state based on the 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital, “a state that will live side by side with Israel in peace, security and good neighborliness.” At the same time, the minister admitted that a peaceful and secure situation between Israel and Palestine was still a long way off. It continued:
“Even the UN, as far as I know, is not particularly keen on interfering in this situation when nothing is clear and Israel categorically says that it will complete the operation against Hamas, which means the total annihilation of Hamas. ”
Russia, in turn, is doing everything in its power to end the Palestinian-Israeli conflict and is committed to a sustainable ceasefire, Lavrov continued.
Lavrov also added that Washington is currently considering a plan to resolve the Palestine issue, creating “a kind of protectorate” either “under the leadership of Arab countries that do not need it” or under the auspices of the UN. But it is obvious that Washington – alone or together with its allies – is not able to “secretly develop a sustainable and viable concept for the formation of the state of Palestine,” Lavrov added. This would not bring peace and prosperity to either the Palestinians or Israel, the Russian foreign minister concluded.