Israeli deputy minister: Russia's possible support to Palestine resolution won't affect Israeli-Russian relations
MOSCOW. Dec 19 (Interfax) - Israel presumes that Russia will back the UN Security Council resolution on deadlines for forming the Palestinian state but that will not affect relations between Moscow and Tel Aviv, Israeli Deputy Interior Minister Faina Kirschenbaum said.
"I do not think this will lead to any alterations in our relationship," she said in an interview with Interfax in answer to a related question.
"I'd very much like to hope that Russia denies support to this resolution. But probably Russia will not be the only country to approve it," the deputy minister said.
A draft resolution of the UN Security Council coordinated by the Palestinians and France says that a solution to the Palestinian-Israeli conflict should be found within a year and that Palestinian lands should be returned by the end of 2017.
The date when the resolution will be put to the vote has yet to be set.
The resolution compels the parties to reach a fair, universal and lasting peace through co-existence of the Israeli and Palestinian states within a period of twelve months from when it comes into effect.
Palestine suggests that Jerusalem should be the capital city of both states.
In addition, the draft declares the need for a phased withdrawal of Israeli forces from the occupied Palestinian territory. The document authors believe that process should be completed within a reasonable period, no later than the end of 2017.
Chief of the Palestinian Observer Mission to the United Nations Riyad Mansour underlined the readiness for negotiations with all UN Security Council members regarding the draft resolution. He said the Palestinian side might amend that text if necessary.
The Palestinian administration said at first that the draft should be put to a vote as soon as necessary. However, Mansour said later they would not hurry and keep coordinating the text until it satisfied all members of the UN Security Council.
