Russian-Palestinian Summit Discusses Mechanisms to Revive Political Settlement

Russian President Vladimir Putin, right, and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas pose for a photo prior to their talks in the Bocharov Ruchei residence in the Black Sea resort of Sochi, Russia, Tuesday, Nov. 23, 2021. (Yevgeny Biyatov, Sputnik, Kremlin Pool Photo via AP)
Russian President Vladimir Putin, right, and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas pose for a photo prior to their talks in the Bocharov Ruchei residence in the Black Sea resort of Sochi, Russia, Tuesday, Nov. 23, 2021. (Yevgeny Biyatov, Sputnik, Kremlin Pool Photo via AP)
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Russian-Palestinian Summit Discusses Mechanisms to Revive Political Settlement

Russian President Vladimir Putin, right, and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas pose for a photo prior to their talks in the Bocharov Ruchei residence in the Black Sea resort of Sochi, Russia, Tuesday, Nov. 23, 2021. (Yevgeny Biyatov, Sputnik, Kremlin Pool Photo via AP)
Russian President Vladimir Putin, right, and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas pose for a photo prior to their talks in the Bocharov Ruchei residence in the Black Sea resort of Sochi, Russia, Tuesday, Nov. 23, 2021. (Yevgeny Biyatov, Sputnik, Kremlin Pool Photo via AP)

Russian President Vladimir Putin held a round of “comprehensive and detailed” talks on Tuesday with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, the Kremlin said.

Putin underlined his country’s commitment to a settlement of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict “on the basis of the relevant international resolutions and within the framework of a just solution that achieves the interests of all parties.”

Abbas reiterated his call for organizing an international conference for the Middle East.

At the beginning of the meeting, which took place in the Russian resort of Sochi on the Black Sea, Putin stressed that Moscow’s “firm position on settling the Palestinian issue has not changed.”

“The Palestinian problem must be resolved in accordance with previous UN Security Council resolutions, on a just basis that takes into account the interests of all,” the Russian president said, pledging to “continue to work towards achieving this goal, no matter how difficult it is.”

On bilateral relations, Putin said it was necessary to resume the work of the joint intergovernmental commission between Russia and Palestine as soon as possible.

Abbas emphasized his appreciation of Russia’s firm position in support of Palestinian rights, and pointed to the importance of maintaining coordination in order to address major developments facing Palestine and the region.

Prior to his arrival in Russia, the Palestinian president announced his intention to discuss ways to revive the political process.

In an interview with the Russian Sputnik agency, he said that he was counting on discussing the process with Putin, stressing his confidence in Russian support. He added that he was hinging on Moscow’s backing to organize an international peace conference.

“If the two-state solution is not implemented, there will be other alternatives, including going to a one-state solution for all Palestinian and Israeli citizens living on the land of historic Palestine, or returning to the partition resolution issued in 1947,” Abbas told the agency.

Earlier, Moscow confirmed its endeavor to revive the work of the International Quartet on the Middle East. Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov expressed disappointment over the reluctance of “some parties” to accept the repeated Russian invitation to hold a meeting at the level of foreign ministers of the Quartet.

The committee, which includes Russia, the United States, the United Nations and the European Union, held three video conferences in the past months at the level of delegates, but Moscow insisted that in order to push the talks further, a meeting must be organized at the ministerial level to take decisions and establish practical mechanisms to advance the settlement process in the Middle East.



Baghdad Urges Washington to Prevent ‘Imminent’ Israeli Strikes

Sudani visiting a market in Baghdad on Thursday (Government media)
Sudani visiting a market in Baghdad on Thursday (Government media)
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Baghdad Urges Washington to Prevent ‘Imminent’ Israeli Strikes

Sudani visiting a market in Baghdad on Thursday (Government media)
Sudani visiting a market in Baghdad on Thursday (Government media)

Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia Al-Sudani on Thursday called on major powers to “exert greater efforts to end the war in Palestine and Lebanon.” Meanwhile, an Iraqi government official urged the United States to “prevent any attacks on the country,” referring to potential Israeli strikes.
During a phone conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin, Al-Sudani stressed the importance of ensuring the conflict does not escalate “to a level that threatens regional and global stability.”
The Iraqi prime minister’s appeal comes amid reports suggesting that Israel may launch strikes on Iraq in retaliation for attacks by Iraqi armed factions targeting Israeli positions.
The Iraqi government is striving to assert its exclusive authority over weapons and war-related decisions. However, armed factions affiliated with the Axis of Resistance openly claim responsibility for near-daily rocket attacks on Israel. This has provided Israel with a justification for potentially targeting Iraqi territory, especially after it filed a complaint with the UN Security Council against six Iraqi factions and held Baghdad responsible for the attacks.
These factions have also openly declared their involvement in the ongoing conflict with Israel in Lebanon and Gaza. The Iraqi government has been unable to take decisive action to halt the activities of these factions, which many believe could soon expose Iraq to an Israeli strike.
According to media reports, Washington has warned Baghdad that Israeli airstrikes on Iraq are “imminent” unless the Iraqi government curtails attacks by Iranian-backed factions on Israel. The Times of Israel cited sources indicating that the United States has “exhausted all means of pressure on Israel” and urged Iraq to act swiftly to prevent such attacks.
Despite repeated assurances from the Iraqi government—including its recent adoption of 12 measures by the National Security Council to counter Israeli threats and complaints—the situation remains tense. These measures include monitoring Iraq’s western borders, preventing factions from launching attacks, and maintaining Iraq’s neutrality in the ongoing conflict.
On Wednesday, Abu Hussein Al-Hamidawi, Secretary-General of Kata’ib Hezbollah, made a striking statement on the role of resistance factions in the war and their commitment to the Unity of Fronts doctrine frequently mentioned by Axis of Resistance groups.
In an interview published by the faction’s media arm, Al-Hamidawi said: “The continuity of the Unity of Fronts concept depends on what the Lebanese Hezbollah decides.”
Al-Hamidawi also emphasized that resistance factions are constantly coordinating internally and with external partners such as Hezbollah, the Houthis, and Palestinian resistance leaders.
“We aim to ensure that the Palestinian people are not left alone and that the Unity of Fronts remains intact,” he stated.
Fadi Al-Shammari, a political advisor to Sudani, reiterated that Israel’s threats “are not new,” citing the recent complaint filed by Israel with the UN Security Council as part of its pattern of issuing threats.
In media statements, Al-Shammari reaffirmed the Iraqi government’s long-standing position: “The decision of war and peace lies solely with the Iraqi government.”
He noted that the factions’ attacks are being launched from areas outside Iraq’s borders, specifically from Syria. However, he stressed that the Iraqi government is working through its security and military agencies to prevent Iraq from becoming a battlefield for external or internal parties.
Al-Shammari also called on the United States to fulfill its responsibilities under the Strategic Framework Agreement and security pact with Iraq, emphasizing the need to deter and respond to any external attacks that threaten Iraq’s internal security.