Lavrov: Russia Supports Palestine’s Accession to UN

Russia supports Palestine’s accession to the United Nations, almost 150 states have already recognized its independence, Chairman of the UN Security Council, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said, speaking at the Security Council meeting on the situation in the Middle East, which includes the Palestinian issue.

“In 1949, we supported Israel’s UN membership application – under the condition of implementation of UN General Assembly Resolutions 181 and 194 regarding the right of Palestinian refugees for repatriation. This was said clearly when we voted in favor of Israel’s accession to the UN. Similarly, today, we support the accession of Palestine, whose sovereignty has been recognized by almost 150 countries, to the global organization,” the minister said.

“We proceed from the imperative of implementation of UN decisions, including the abovementioned General Assembly resolutions and the key Security Council resolutions – number 242 and 338 – adopted after the Six-Day War and the Yom Kippur War, as well as resolutions number 478 and 497 regarding the status of Jerusalem and the Golan Heights,” he added.

Lavrov pointed out that Russia defends a position, based on international law, within various international formats for settlement of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, as well as the Middle Eastern conflict in general.

The United States is unable or unwilling to stop supporting Israel, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said on Wednesday, adding that the bloodshed will stop if there is no US support.

“However, the US is either unwilling or unable to do so,” Lavrov said at the UN Security Council session.

By supplying arms and ammunition, the US became directly involved in the conflict in the Middle East, “just like in the situation with Ukraine,” Lavrov added.

It seems like Israel does not need any plan that includes reaching a peaceful solution to the conflict, the foreign minister noted.

“Israel doesn’t need any plan with a hint of peace, we saw that again today,” he said.

Russia’s proposal on organizing a meeting of external leaders that have influence on armed groups in the Gaza Strip is still in force, Minister Lavrov pointed out.

“Our proposal for a meeting of all external leaders who have influence over the various groups in Gaza and the West Bank and who can, if they speak with one voice, help overcome the divisions within the Palestinian factions, remains valid,” he emphasized.

Russia supports the admission of Palestine to the United Nations in exactly the same way as it supported Israel joining the organization in 1949, the Russian diplomat highlighted.

“In 1949, we supported Israel’s application for UN membership, provided that it implemented General Assembly resolutions 181 and 194 on the Partition Plan for Palestine and granted Palestinian refugees the right to return home.

This was clearly stated when we voted for Israel’s admission to the UN. Similarly, today we support the admission of Palestine, whose sovereignty has already been recognized by nearly 150 countries, to this world organization,” Lavrov said.