Moscow urges Israel to show restraint

Moscow urges Israel to show restraint and not to undertake actions which might hinder efforts of the Palestinian leadership to curb violence.

The statement made by the Russian foreign ministry in connection with consequences of the Israeli military operation in the Palestinian territories stresses that "while resolutely denouncing terror and appealing to the Palestinian administration to undertake all necessary measures to keep terrorists and extremists in check Russia insistently appeals to the Israeli leadership to show restraint and not to undertake actions which might hinder efforts of the PNA leadership, first of all, of the government headed by Mahmoud Abbas to curb violence, through negotiations as well." On June 10 as a result of a special military operation carried out by Israeli armed forces in the Palestinian territories a car of Sheikh Abdel Aziz Rantisi, one of HAMAS leaders, was destroyed as a result of a helicopter missile strike. Rantisi and several people who accompanied him were wounded. Two people were killed, and passers-by were also wounded.

The Russian foreign ministry indicated that the incident "fails to comply with the parameters of the roadmap which stipulates refusal to undertake unilateral steps and mutual obligations in the struggle against terror and restoration of peace process."