Geneva Initiative Leaders Meet Russian Foreign Minister

On Thursday, Sept. 19th the Israeli and Palestinians heads of the Geneva Initiative met with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov in Moscow.

In the meeting, Minister Lavrov expressed his deep concern over the stalled peace process, calling the situation a “ticking time bomb, which will eventually explode.” He told us that he hoped that the new Israeli government (once formed) would adopt a “responsible stance” regarding the conflict, reiterating Russia’s stance and steadfast support for a two-state solution. Our hosts also emphasized the need for restoring Palestinian unity.

We were greatly encouraged by his praise of the Geneva Initiative’s ongoing efforts and constant engagement with Palestinian and Israeli communities on the ground, as part of our work to cement dialogue and strengthen the infrastructure for peace. He made a special reference to his support for our endeavors in “facilitating the search for a solution to the conflict” as well as our commitment to the cause.

The meeting was widely reported on in the Russian, Israeli, Palestinian and international media. For English written examples, you can see here the articles published in Haaretz and in the Jerusalem Post. In addition, Yossi Beilin and Gadi Baltiansky were interviewed by Israel’s two main radio stations where they provided more in-depth insight.

Here is a link to a short video of the introductory comments made by Minister Lavrov at the start of the session.

The meeting was part of our international advocacy work which is conducted alongside our local activities, and following the developments in the Israeli political arena, is only set to increase.

 

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