MOSCOW CALLS ON ISRAEL AND PALESTINE TO AVOID FURTHER ESCALATION OF TENSIONS








MOSCOW, March 2. /RIA Novosti correspondent/. Moscow calls on Israel and Palestine to display reserve and common sense and avoid the further escalation of tensions, reads a press release of the Russian Foreign Ministry.


	The press release points out that alarming reports continue to arrive from Palestinian territories. There is no end to acts of violence and terrorism, and the western bank of the Jordan River and the Gaza Strip are still blocked. In the Russian Foreign Ministry's opinion, "this leads to the further aggravation of the situation in the Middle East, hindering the resumption of the process of the Arab-Israeili settlement." In his connection, Moscow underlines the need for the Palestinians and Israelis to take urgent measures for normalising the situation and developing interaction in the sphere of people's safety. It is of special importance now to make moves towards lifting the blockade of the Palestinian territories, where socio-economic problems have grown more acute of late.


	The Russian Foreign Ministry points out that in this situation statements concerning the intention to bring Israeli troops into the territory of the Palestinian National Autonomy  "do not help in any way to ameliorate the climate." Moscow believes that it is necessary to find ways for the resumption of political dialogue and outline prospects for a Palestinian-Israeli settlement. "This is the only way to overcome the protracted crisis, to improve the Palestinians' situation, and to stop extremists", the press release says.


	The Russian Foreign Ministry notes that Russia, in turn, is willing to assist the process of regional stabilisation and promote the Mid-East peace settlement in every possible way.