Meeting Oct. 13 with Arab media, who were in Moscow for the Russia-Arab Summit, postponed suddenly due to the breaking peace developments, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov outlined Russia’s approach to the new situation existing in the region.
“We have repeatedly assessed [the Trump plan] as the best available option on the negotiating table, although, of course, it does not address all aspects of the Palestinian issue. Nevertheless, it is crucial to stop the bloodshed as soon as possible and to address the grave humanitarian issues faced by the people.” Russia sincerely wishes success to the Sharm el-Sheikh summit, he stated.
“I hope all agreements will get implemented, although we are hearing both Hamas and Tel Aviv say that the situation has not yet been fully resolved and that there could be more crisis outbreaks. It is important, in my view, that those who initiated this forum, first and foremost President Trump, with the support of the President of Egypt and the leadership of Qatar and Türkiye, prevent such scenarios and focus on an immediate ceasefire, adherence to the agreed-upon line for the withdrawal of Israeli troops from the Gaza Strip, the organization of humanitarian aid, and the rebuilding of this beautiful place on Earth, which, perhaps more than any other territory in the world, has suffered in the postwar years.
“Without a doubt, a lasting settlement is possible only through the implementation of UN resolutions on creating a Palestinian state. We have noted that President Trump’s peace plan mentions only the Gaza Strip. It mentions statehood, but does so in rather general terms. These approaches will need to be clarified and what will happen on the West Bank of the Jordan River will need to be determined as well, since the UN resolutions envisage the creation of a single and territorially integral Palestinian state within the 1967 borders.”
Lavrov stated, nonetheless, that “just like the overwhelming majority of the international community, we remain committed to implementing these resolutions.”
Asked why Russia was not present at the signing, he replied that it had not been invited, but, he said, “Russia is ready to participate in any format”; if the participants in the process “decide that Russia’s involvement would be useful, I assure you we will not refuse.”
Lavrov emphasized multiple times that failure to create a Palestinian state was the biggest risk to Israel and the region’s security; it remains “the most significant factor fuelling the persistence and growth of extremism in the Arab world…. There is no escaping the issue of the Palestinian state. It must be resolved. How to go about it is another issue, but it cannot be done without mutual concessions….”
Once again, however, he repeated: “Now is not the time to tempt fate, but to clearly implement what has been proposed, to stop the bloodshed, to address the humanitarian issues, and to begin to rebuild Gaza. Concurrently and without delay, it is essential to start working on the next plan to create a Palestinian state.”
