Lavrov: Moscow to Consider Israel's Security Interests in Palestinian Settlement

The Russian foreign minister said that Moscow would take Israel’s security interests into account when discussing ways to settle the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

DVORIKI (Russia) (Sputnik) — Moscow will take Israel’s security interests into account when discussing ways to settle the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Friday.

"We 100 percent guarantee that in any circumstance, no matter what methods of settlement are chosen … we will 100 percent consider Israel’s sovereign interests in the field of security," Lavrov said at the forum.

Russia is taking active part in the settlement of the long-standing conflict between Israel and Palestine. Back in 2016, Russian President Vladimir Putin proposed to hold a meeting between Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas in Moscow.

Both leaders have expressed their support for the Russian initiative, meant to facilitate the resumption of peace talks. However, in public speeches, the officials blamed one another for the fact that the summit has not yet been agreed upon.

Relations between Israel and Palestine have been shattered for decades. Palestinians seek diplomatic recognition for their independent state on the territories of the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, which is partially occupied by Israel, along with the Gaza Strip. The Israeli government refuses to recognize Palestine as an independent political and diplomatic entity, building settlements in the occupied areas, despite objections from the United Nations.