MOSCOW, February 18. /TASS/. Russia interested in the resumption of the Israeli-Palestinian peace process, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said on Thursday at a meeting with Israeli Foreign Ministry Director-General Dore Gold.

"Our dialogue also covers international issues, particularly the situation in the Middle East. Unfortunately, there is a lot to be discussed there in the not so positive way," the minister said. "These are the crises in Syria, Libya, Yemen and Iraq."

"Russia as a permanent member of the UN Security Council and member of the Middle East Quartet is interested in creating conditions for resuming the peace process between Israel and Palestine to achieve our common goal — two states existing in peace and security with all their neighbors," Lavrov said.

"The significance of our joint work on the rejection of any manifestations of xenophobia, ethnic hatred, including anti-Semitism, is growing, the tasks of preventing the revision of the results of World War II are becoming more and more relevant," Russia’s top diplomat said.

For his part, Gold noted that Russia and Israel should join forces "to make the Middle East safe and stable." "Let’s work together," he said.