Russia has for years pointed to simmering tensions in Middle East — envoy to UN
"The current crisis has once again demonstrated that regional stability will continue to be an unattainable goal without a fair settlement of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict in conformity of the Security Council and General Assembly resolutions," Vasily Nebenzya said
UNITED NATIONS, October 24. /TASS/. Moscow has been warning for several years that tensions in the Middle East are soaring and the risk of an explosion is ever higher, Russia's permanent representative to the UN Vasily Nebenzya has said.
"The tragic events in the region stem from Washington's longstanding destructive role and policy of sabotaging the resolution of fundamental issues of the old conflict. <…> Look at our statements on the Middle East. We, along with many others, have been warning for several years that the simmering tensions there are about to explode. Now this explosion has happened," he said in an open debate in the UN Security Council on the Middle East.
"The current crisis has once again demonstrated that regional stability will continue to be an unattainable goal without a fair settlement of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict in conformity of the Security Council and General Assembly resolutions," he added.
Tensions flared up in the Middle East after Hamas militants from the Gaza Strip attacked Israeli territory. Hamas views its attack as a response to Israeli authorities’ steps against the Al-Aqsa Mosque on Jerusalem’s Temple Mount. Israel declared a total blockade of the Gaza Strip and launched bombardments of the enclave and some areas in Lebanon and Syria. Clashes are also reported in the West Bank.