Russia condemns terrorist attack, calls for Israel, Palestinians to stick to commitments

Russia on Wednesday condemned terrorist attack in Netanya, but urged both the Palestinians and Israel to stick to commitments given before the deadly suicide bombing rattled a 5-month-old truce.

"We hope that both sides, the Palestinians and Israel, will show restraint and commitment to their obligations, and avoid any unilateral steps which could negatively affect the Palestinian-Israeli settlement and the final status of the Palestinian territories," the Russian Foreign Ministry's spokesman Alexander Yakovenko said in a statement.

Tuesday's bombing at a shopping mall in the seaside city of Netanya by militant group Islamic Jihad killed four Israelis. There are concerns the violence might derail Israel's plans to withdraw from the Gaza Strip and four West Bank settlements in mid-August, says the AP.

The Russian official also urged Palestinians to do more to prevent militant attacks.

"We call on the Palestinian authorities to energetically step up efforts in thwarting extremist activities," he said.

Russia also called the international community to intensify support of the Middle East peace process. Russia from its part is going to act effectively in the frameworks of the so-called Quartet of international mediators, G8 and the UN to revive the "road map" peace plan aimed at settlement between Israel and the Palestinians.

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