Israel Pins Hope on Russian Mediation in Middle East Standoff
Created: 03.07.2006 15:43 MSK (GMT +3), Updated: 15:59 MSK, 4 hours 58 minutes ago
MosNews
Israeli Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni has arrived in Moscow on Monday for talks with her Russian counterpart, as tensions between Israel and the Palestinians soared over an Israeli soldier captured more than a week ago, Associated Press news agency reports.
Livni told Russia’s “Nezavisimaya Gazeta” daily newspaper that Israel was counting on the world community to put pressure on the Palestinian leadership in Gaza and on Khaled Mashaal, leader of the militant Hamas group. She also stressed that Russia via its membership in the group of four (UN, EU, U.S., Russian) related to the Middle East plays an important role in achieving peace in the region.
Israeli Foreign Minister said she had “heard clear statements from the leadership of the Russian Federation about the need to fight terrorism,” the newspaper reported. “We’re counting on the same position being manifested now,” she emphasized.
According to ITAR-TASS news agency, Livni is also expected to discuss with her counterpart the Iranian nuclear program and meet with the head of Russia’s Security Council, Igor Ivanov.
Israel Pins Hope on Russian Mediation in Middle East Standoff
