INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
Russia's Foreign Ministry on Saturday called for Israeli and Palestinian forces to stop armed hostilities after attacks launched by
Palestinian militant group Hamas on Israel."We call on the Palestinian and Israeli sides to immediately ceasefire, renounce violence, show
the necessary restraint," Russian foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said.Zakharova called the parties to set up "a negotiation
process aimed at establishing a comprehensive, lasting and long-awaited peace" with the help of the international community.The long-lasting
conflict between Israel and Palestine "cannot be solved by force, but only by diplomatic means," Zakharova said.She said Moscow was standing
by its position in favor of negotiations "for the creation of an independent Palestinian state within the 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem
as its capital, living in peace and security with Israel."Earlier Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov urged restraint from all
parties."We are now in contact with everyone
With the Israelis, Palestinians, Arabs," Bogdanov told Russian private news agency Interfax."This is an unexpected aggravation
If we had expected it, we would not have allowed it," he said.
