Moscow Outraged At Assassination Of Rehavam Zeevi, Israel's Minister Of Tourism

Moscow is angered by and strongly condemns the assassination of Israel's minister of tourism Rehavam Zeevi. This is said in a statement received on Wednesday by RIA Novosti from Alexander Yakovenko, an official Foreign Ministry spokesman. "This crime is at the same time a provocation against peace in the region, since it was committed in those days when after months of Palestinian-Israeli face-off there appeared signs of easing of tension," the document says further. "Expressing deep condolences to the near ones of the deceased, his friends and colleagues, we at the same time call on the Israeli and Palestinian sides to show a maximum presence of mind. Despite what happened, it is necessary to do everything possible to prevent a new outburst of confrontation, which can benefit only extremists and foes of reconciliation between the Israelis and Palestinians". As Yakovenko noted, it is especially important to continue the consistent implementation of accords reached during a meeting between Shimon Peres and Yasser Arafat, concerned above all with the struggle against terrorism.