MOSCOW, October 26. /TASS/. Russia is deeply concerned about the rising tensions and escalation of violence in the Palestinian territories and Israel, the Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement released on Monday.
The ministry drew attention to the fact a 17-year-old Palestinian high school student had been fatally wounded by Israeli soldiers on October 25 in Hebron. In all, according to unofficial data, 58 Palestinians have been killed since October 1. During the same period more than 40 attacks on Israeli citizens have been carried out, with 9 people becoming their victims.
"Expressing strong condemnation of all terrorist attacks and deep concern over the recurrence of violence, we again call on the Palestinians and Israelis to show restraint, abandon provocative steps and rhetoric," the Russian Foreign Ministry said. "We confirm the common stand in this regard outlined in a statement adopted following a ministerial meeting of the Middle East quartet of international mediators held in Vienna on October 23."
Moscow perceived positively the stance of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in favor of maintaining the status quo of the holy places in Jerusalem while respecting a special role played by Jordan stemming from the provisions of the 1994 peace treaty between Jordan and Israel, the statement says.
"We consider the agreements reached between the Israelis and the Jordanians on concrete measures aimed at reducing tensions over Jerusalem’s holy sites to be a step in the right direction," the Russian Foreign Ministry said. "We believe that a fair and long-term solution to the problem of Jerusalem will be an integral part of a comprehensive Palestinian-Israeli settlement based on the well-known principles of international law."