MOSCOW, March 2 (RIA Novosti) - Israel's military raids on the West Bank towns of Nablus and Jenin only further aggravate the situation in Palestinian territories, a Russian diplomatic spokesman said Friday.

In the ongoing violence on the West Bank, the Israeli military killed one Palestinian during a five-day search of Nablus for Palestinian gunmen. In another Israeli operation in Jenin Wednesday two militant Palestinian leaders died and tens of Palestinians were arrested on suspicion of causing Israeli deaths.

Mikhail Kamynin, spokesman for the Russian Foreign Ministry, said Israel's actions "complicated the efforts of those forces, both Palestinian and international, who are trying to find a political solution to the conflict."

Russia is one of four sponsors in the Middle East peace process together with the UN, the European Union and the United States.

While calling for opposition to "any form of terrorism, violence, including missile strikes against Israel," Kamynin said operations should be carried out with sensitivity and with the minimum pain and suffering to peaceful Palestinians.