MOSCOW, April 8. /TASS/. Palestine is ready for direct dialogue with Israel under Russia’s mediation, Palestine’s Ambassador to Moscow Abdel Hafiz Nofal told TASS on Monday.

"From the very beginning we have answered positively to President Putin's offer to start negotiations in Moscow. We are still committed to that but only with Russia, and Russian approach and mediation," Nofal said when asked about how Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s statements about territories on the West Bank can affect the peace process.

He drew attention to the fact that Netanyahu’s statement came shortly after the recognition of Israel’s sovereignty over the Golan Heights by the United States. "We expect Americans to continue their anti-Palestinian policy, there's no doubt that the US authorities may also recognize the West Bank as a part of Israel," he noted.

Netanyahu earlier pledged to extend Israel’s sovereignty onto Jewish settlements in the occupied Palestinian territories on Jordan’s West Bank.