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Russia reiterates readiness to organize possible intra-Palestinian meetings in Moscow

The situation in East Jerusalem aggravated on April 15 after a group of Jewish pilgrims visited the Temple Mount

MOSCOW, May 6. /TASS/. Russia reiterates its readiness to organize possible intra-Palestinian meetings in Moscow, Russian presidential envoy for the Middle East and African countries and Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov told Ahmed Majdalani, secretary general of the Palestinian Popular Struggle Front (PPSF) and a member of the Palestine Liberation Organization’s Executive Committee, on Friday.

"The sides discussed the current situation on the West Bank and in the Gaza Strip in light of recurring acts of violence in the zone of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict. Special attention was focused on the ongoing tensions around the Al-Aqsa mosque in East Jerusalem," the Russian foreign ministry said after their telephone conversation.

"The sides touched upon the issues of the soonest restoration of Palestinian national unity on the platform of the Palestine Liberation Organization. In this context, the Russian side reiterated its readiness to continue to maintain close contacts with the leading Palestinian political forces, including possible organizations of intra-Palestinian meetings in Moscow," it said.

The conversation was initiated by the Palestinian side.

The situation in East Jerusalem aggravated on April 15 after a group of Jewish pilgrims visited the Temple Mount. The Israeli police dispersed a crowd of protesting Arabs, dozens of people were detained. Around 170 Palestinians and eight Israelis were hurt. On April 21, the Arab League Committee met in Amman to discuss the outbreak of violence and condemned Israel’s restrictive measures, demanding unimpeded access be granted to the Al-Aqsa mosque.