The situation on the Palestinian territories – the West Bank of the Jordan River, including East Jerusalem, as well as in the Gaza Strip – continues to deteriorate. According to media reports, two Israelis were killed and two others wounded in a Palestinian attack in Jerusalem’s Old City on October 3. The attackers were shot dead by Israeli police. Tensions flared when Israel imposed age restrictions on worshippers at the Al-Aqsa mosque during the Jewish Sukkot holiday (Feast of Tabernacles). The situation was further aggravated by religious Jews visiting the Temple Mount.

Clashes between the Palestinians and the Israeli military have been reported in the Arab suburbs of Jerusalem and in several large cities on the West Bank. In one of the reported incidents, a Palestinian youth was shot in the chest by the Israeli army in Tulkarm on October 5. More attacks by Israeli settlers in neighbouring Arab villages have been reported. In the overnight hours into October 5, two rockets were fired from the Gaza Strip at Israel, which then ordered its Air Force to deliver a strike at several sites in the area.

Moscow is deeply concerned about these developments. We strongly condemn terrorism and the murder of peaceful civilians, be they Israelis or Palestinians.

We urge the sides to exercise the utmost restraint and to take action without delay to de-escalate the violence. Every effort must be made to prevent the situation from rolling back into confrontation; the extremists must not be allowed to turn the conflict into a religious war. We express our condolences to the families of the dead and wish a speedy recovery to the wounded.

These events have reaffirmed the need to resume the Palestinian-Israeli talks as soon as possible to bring about a fair settlement based on the two-state solution.

 

October 5, 2015