Iran Press/ Europe: "It should be clear that even the US won't be able to negotiate a [peace] agreement alone and thus it's crucial to return to group formats, to a Middle East Quartet working in close cooperation with the Arab league", Sergei Lavrov said during a press conference on 21 December.
Russian FM recalled that the US administration has been working on a "deal of the century" since the beginning of Donald Trump's presidency, but so far has failed to present any of its details, Sputnik reported.
The Russian foreign minister also expressed concern about attempts to undermine the international legal basis for so-called Arab-Israeli peace negotiations.
Lavrov added that even obligatory decisions by the UN are being affected by these attempts.
Related news:
Palestine Foreign Ministry condemns US policies in region
Haniyeh says protests continue until "Quds" is liberated
The Palestinian Autonomy rejected the US attempts to single-handedly negotiate a peace agreement with Israel following US President Donald Trump's decision in December 2017 to move the US Embassy to Al-Quds and acknowledge the whole city to be Israel's capital.
Trump's decision also escalated tensions between the Palestinian Autonomy and Israel and led to massive clashes on the Israeli border with the Gaza Strip.
Lavrov also reiterated Moscow's previous offers to host a meeting between Israeli and Palestinian leaders to continue negotiating a lasting peace agreement. He noted that both sides have nothing against holding such a meeting.
"[President of Palestine Authority] Mahmoud Abbas announced on multiple occasions that he is ready for such a meeting without any preconditions. Israel does not refute the possibility of such a meeting, but it is not ready to negotiate a date", Lavrov said.
Related news:
Abbas rejects Trump's peace plan for middle east
Hamas: US wants to impose 'deal of the century' on Palestine
On Nov. 24, the head of the political bureau of the Palestinian resistance movement, Hamas, Ismail Haniyeh stressed that the Palestinian nation will never allow Donald Trump's 'deal of the century' to see the light of day.
"We won't allow this American conspiracy to be implemented," Ismail Haniyeh added in his speech at the 32nd International Islamic Unity Conference .
The so-called deal, a backchannel plan to allegedly reach a peace settlement between Israel and the Palestinians, was proposed by the US administration late last year. Although the plan has not been released, leaks signal it will consist of the same tried and failed ideas.
104/210
Read more:
Washington ends funding for UN's Palestine refugee agency
At least 54 Palestinian kids killed by Israel since January
