Russian Mediators Postpone Trip at Israel's Request Amid Security Concerns

Russian Foreign Ministry’s spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said that visit of Russian peace mediators on Israeli-Palestinian reconciliation was called off "at the request by the Israeli side due to the recent events."

MOSCOW (Sputnik) — Russian peace mediators from the Middle East Quartet on Israeli-Palestinian reconciliation have postponed their trip to the region due to a request from Israel that cited security concerns, Russian Foreign Ministry’s spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said Wednesday.

Russians were to visit Israel and the Palestinian territories on October 13-15 as part of a joint effort with the United States, the European Union and the United Nations to diffuse tensions in the Middle East and help establish a Palestinian state on the territories seized by Israel in 1967.

Zakharova said this week’s visit was called off "at the request by the Israeli side due to the recent events." "We intend to continue our efforts, including in the framework of the Middle East Quartet of international mediators, to deescalate Israeli-Palestinian tensions," she told reporters.

A wave of stabbing attacks and bombings hit Israel over the past weeks following clashes between Palestinians and Israeli security forces at the disputed East Jerusalem Temple Mount holy site.

On Tuesday, three Israelis died and 17 were injured in shooting and stabbing incidents in Jerusalem, while five others were stabbed in two attacks in the central town of Raanana.