MOSCOW, February 26. /TASS/. Russia calls for resuming the work of the Middle East Quartet (Russia, the United States, the United Nations, and the European Union) on the settlement of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict to avert another large-scale confrontation between the sides, Russian presidential envoy for the Middle East and African countries and Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov said in an interview with TASS.

"Even in the current geopolitical environment, we call for resuming the work of this unique mechanism of diplomatic backing for the Middle East settlement (the Middle East Quartet - TASS). We are convinced that hindering the Quartet’s activities adversely impacts the situation on the ground and is playing into the hands of those forces that are interested in unleashing another large-scale Palestinian-Israeli confrontation," he noted.

According to the Russian senior diplomat, the United States’ attempt to undermine collective effort and monopolize the role of a mediator on this track are likewise harmful. "The United States’ sole mediation between the Palestinians and the Israelis has always led to another bloody outburst of violence," he added.