MOSCOW, January 29 (RIA Novosti) - Palestine is facing the threat of a civil war, the Russian foreign minister said Monday.

"The situation in Palestine remains very complicated," Sergei Lavrov said. "Efforts to resume talks with Israel encounter the threat of a civil war in Palestine. We [the Middle East Quartet, comprising Russia, the U.S., UN and EU] should help stop the conflict between Fatah and Hamas and external attempts to provoke confrontations between the movements."

The radical Islamic group Hamas, which is still considered a terrorist organization by Israel, the U.S. and the EU, gained a majority in the Palestinian National Authority (PNA) after defeating President Mahmoud Abbas' Fatah faction in polls a year ago.

Russia has been the only country to recognize and maintain ties with the government of Hamas.

Lavrov said at President Vladimir Putin's meeting with Cabinet members on the upcoming session of the Quartet in Washington that the Quartet is helping to form a government of national unity in Palestine.

He said that Fatah and Hamas could have reached an agreement but for external interference.

"Hamas is ready to acknowledge agreements on talks with Israel and decisions of the UN and the League of Arab States," Lavrov added.

The conflict between Fatah and Hamas escalated following an explosion in Jabalya in December 2006 that left two members of the Islamic group dead.

Since then, all talks between Hamas and Fatah on the formation of a government of national unity have ended in deadlock.

Abbas said he will hold early presidential and parliamentary elections if no agreement on the formation of a new cabinet is reached.

Speaking about the Quartet's upcoming meeting in Washington February 2, Lavrov said "the discussions will be difficult."