Russian Foreign Ministry comments on Israeli military operations

Moscow believes that Israeli military operations in densely populated Palestinian areas are disproportionately tough. This was disclosed here today at the Russian Foreign Ministry's information-and-press department, as its officials commented on Israel's efforts to catch terrorists in Rafah township. Five Palestinians were killed and dozens more wounded as a result of such Israeli operations.

Moscow, which resolutely condemns terrorist actions on the part of extremists, is deeply concerned over those disproportionately tough Israeli military operations in densely populated Palestinian areas that cause unjustified civilian fatalities, the department's officials stressed.

Resumed dialogue, security dialogue, in the first place, as well as the resumption of the political negotiating process, are the only realistic chance for eliminating the current impasse in Palestinian-Israeli relations, Moscow believes.