Russia backs New Zealand’s UN bid to restart Israel-Palestinian talks

The deeply divided Security Council has not adopted a resolution on the decades-old conflict in six years.

 

Russia’s UN Ambassador Vitaly Churkin said Moscow has always maintained that the UN’s most powerful body “should get closer involved.”

 

“I think we should seriously look at it,” he told reporters. “I don’t see anything controversial about that text.”

 

The New Zealand draft resolution notes “with alarm the escalating cycle of violence” between Israel and the Palestinians. It declares that a two-state solution, achieved through direct negotiations, is the only path to peace, and it calls on both parties, backed by key international players, to take steps to end violence and incitement and rebuild trust.

 

The draft further calls on both Israel and the Palestinians to refrain from “provocative acts” including acts that threaten the status quo of holy sites in Jerusalem which have sparked recent clashes. It also calls on the Palestinians to refrain from referring “a situation” to the International Criminal Court.

 

Israel’s UN Ambassador Danny Danon was very dismissive, calling the proposed resolution “destructive instead of being constructive.” He said “the only way to achieve peace is through direct talks between the parties,” which Israel has called for.

 

Read More: Russia backs New Zealand’s UN bid to restart Israel-Palestinian talks | The Times of Israel