Russian Emphasize Diplomacy for Regional Stability in the Middle East

Islamabad 7 November 2023 (Adnan Hameed): - The Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs is committed to addressing the escalating violence in the Palestinian-Israeli conflict and advocates for a multilateral approach to finding a solution to the Middle East crisis. Recent events have demonstrated that monopolizing the mediation function can exacerbate conflicts rather than lead to their resolution. The priority at this critical juncture is to bring an immediate halt to the military operations in Gaza, ensuring the safety of civilians and the timely delivery of humanitarian aid to those in need. It is of utmost importance to secure the release of all hostages to prevent further radicalization and the growth of terrorism, as well as to contain the spread of the conflict. We firmly believe that the time has come to create an environment conducive to resuming the Palestinian-Israeli peace process. This requires preventing unilateral actions, such as the absorption of settlements on the West Bank, the desecration of shrines in Jerusalem, and any actions that incite violence and terrorism. Inter-Palestinian national unity, based on the Palestine Liberation Organization, offers a path towards recognizing Israel and negotiating a resolution on a comprehensive set of final status issues. To foster a constructive atmosphere for peace talks, the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs proposes ministerial consultations to coordinate the approaches of regional states concerning the Middle East settlement. It is noteworthy that the Russian Federation was the first to propose the initiative to convene an international conference for the Middle East back in 2007. This initiative received unanimous support and was documented in UN Security Council Resolution 1850 (2008), highlighting the concept of holding a collective meeting in Moscow to address the Arab-Israeli settlement. The Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs sees the value of drawing upon the experience gained during the Madrid Process, which commenced in October 1991. This process featured a comprehensive approach to overcoming regional challenges, establishing a direct dialogue between Israelis and Palestinians, and engaging in multilateral talks on fundamental security issues, refugees, the economy, and water resource distribution. We emphasize the pivotal role of Middle East states in resolving regional issues. Abandoning confrontational rhetoric and promoting a political-diplomatic settlement of disagreements in recent times has led to the stabilization of relations between Saudi Arabia and Iran, the reintegration of Syria into the League of Arab States, and the gradual development of dialogue between Damascus and Ankara. Third parties must not be allowed to exploit the Palestinian-Israeli confrontation to disrupt these positive trends and plunge the region into chaos. The involvement and unity of regional states, coupled with the political will of Palestinians and Israelis to engage in comprehensive peace talks, are fundamental prerequisites for restarting the Middle East peace process.