Palestinian-Russian Talks Push for Summit in Cairo

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov. Reuters file photo
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov. Reuters file photo
TT

Palestinian-Russian Talks Push for Summit in Cairo

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov. Reuters file photo
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov. Reuters file photo

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov discussed with a senior Palestinian official in Moscow Tuesday the latest developments and means to enhance the peace process.

During the meeting, Moscow signaled willingness to support an international gathering in Cairo to discuss the mechanism of reviving the peace talks between the Palestinians and Israel.

On Tuesday, Hussein el-Sheikh, a member of the central committee of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas' Fatah Movement, held talks in Moscow with Russian officials.

In a press statement following his meeting with Lavrov, el-Sheikh said discussions focused on the situation in the region and the upcoming Palestinian elections.

Moscow has welcomed Friday’s announcement from Abbas of the first full parliamentary and presidential elections in 15 years, scheduled to begin in May.

“This agreement is crucial for holding Palestinian-Israeli talks and solve all pending issues based on the two-state solution and in accordance with relevant UN resolutions, bilateral agreements and international law,” Lavrov was quoted as saying.

Palestinian ambassador to Russia Abdel Hafiz Nofal said the meeting tackled the resumption of talks between the Palestinians and Israel, the Russian role in pushing the peace process forward and the national reconciliation.

“We informed Moscow that resuming talks with the Israeli side does not mean immediately returning to the negotiation table. Palestine would only resume talks in accordance to a new mechanism based on an international formula that is not only under the control of the United States,” he said.

Also, the Palestinian side thanked Russia for its help in fighting the spread of the COVID-19 disease in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank.

Russian authorities approved to provide Palestinians with 100,000 doses of Sputnik V vaccine. Moscow decided to urgently send 5,000 doses as a personal donation from Russian President Vladimir Putin.



Death Toll in Lebanon Crosses 3,000 in 13-Month Israel-Hezbollah War, Health Ministry Says

A building destroyed during an Israeli airstrike southern Lebanese town of Ghazieh, 03 November 2024. (EPA)
A building destroyed during an Israeli airstrike southern Lebanese town of Ghazieh, 03 November 2024. (EPA)
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Death Toll in Lebanon Crosses 3,000 in 13-Month Israel-Hezbollah War, Health Ministry Says

A building destroyed during an Israeli airstrike southern Lebanese town of Ghazieh, 03 November 2024. (EPA)
A building destroyed during an Israeli airstrike southern Lebanese town of Ghazieh, 03 November 2024. (EPA)

More than 3,000 people have been killed in Lebanon during 13 months of fighting between Israel and Hezbollah, Lebanon's Health Ministry said Monday. At least 13,492 have been injured.

Hezbollah began firing rockets into northern Israel the day after Hamas’ surprise attack into Israel on Oct. 7, 2023 ignited the war in Gaza. Hezbollah and Hamas are both allied with Iran.

The conflict dramatically escalated on Sept. 23 with intense Israeli airstrikes on south and east Lebanon as well as Beirut’s southern suburbs, leaving hundreds dead and leading to the displacement of nearly 1.2 million people.

Israel began a ground invasion of south Lebanon on Oct. 1, causing wide destruction in border villages but making little advances on the ground inside Lebanon.

In Israel, 72 people have been killed from Hezbollah attacks, including 30 soldiers.