MOSCOW, March 15 (RIA Novosti) - Russia warned against further violence in Palestinian-controlled territories Wednesday following Israeli forces' attack on a West Bank prison.
Foreign Ministry spokesman Mikhail Kamynin called on Israel and the Palestinian National Authority (PNA) to do everything possible to prevent the situation in the West Bank and Gaza from spiraling out of control.
"We are appealing to the leadership of Israel and the Palestinian National Authority, to all Palestinian political forces and organizations to exercise restraint and not to take steps that may further escalate tensions," Kamynin said.
The area was tense Wednesday after an Israeli raid Tuesday on a prison in the West Bank town of Jericho. Israel said it sent in troops, backed by tanks and helicopters, after the Palestinian leadership refused to extradite six inmates suspected of involvement in the assassination of Israeli Tourism Minister Rehavam Zeevi in 2001.
Kamynin said Russia remained committed to resolving the conflict through the Middle East quartet of mediators and the UN Security Council.
"It will be impossible to achieve stabilization and prevent further violence and bloodshed without a prompt breakthrough in the Palestinian-Israeli negotiations and resumption of political dialogue between the sides to bring about a lasting settlement based on international law," he said.
The Israeli raid, which began after UK and US monitors left the Palestinian-run prison complaining about lax security, triggered a wave of anti-Western violence in the West Bank and Gaza, with Palestinian gunmen setting ablaze the premises of Western diplomatic missions and kidnapping foreign nationals, including two French citizens and a Canadian.
