RAMALLAH, June 27 (RIA Novosti) - Russia's Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Moscow condemns any attempts to undermine Palestinian statehood, and called for a unified Palestinian state to be established as soon as possible.
A week of armed clashes between the two leading Palestinian factions, radical Islamic movement Hamas and pro-presidential Fatah, left at least 115 people dead and hundreds injured in Gaza and ended up with Hamas seizing control over Gaza. The West Bank, a more expansive territory, remains in the hands of Fatah.
"We support the efforts by Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas to bring order and restore the rule of law," Lavrov told a joint news conference with the Palestinian leader in Ramallah, on the West Bank.
A quartet of mediators in the Middle East conflict, which comprises Russia, the European Union, the United States, and the United Nations, agreed June 17 that the Palestinian leader's decision to dissolve a coalition government and form an emergency Cabinet was legitimate.
"Russia, as a country and member of the quartet, will provide all necessary assistance to restore the unity of Palestinian people," Lavrov said. "Russia will be a part of international efforts to provide humanitarian aid to the Palestinians, first of all to those who were affected by the complicated situation in Gaza."
