Russia: Stop firing Qassams, stop building settlements
From Palestinian donor conference in France, Russian foreign minister calls on Palestinians to halt rocket attacks, demands Israel stop expanding settlements in West Bank. But while Russia may be generous with its words, is it short on cash? Moscow pledged the smallest of all donations - $10 million
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov called on Palestinians to stop firing Qassam rockets at Israel and implored Israel to cease settlement construction.
"We welcome the political process between Israel and the Palestinians with open arms, and we have provided support and donations," Lavrov said at the conference for donors to the Palestinian Authority currently being held in Paris.
The conference has so far pledged a total of $7.4 billion in aid to the Palestinians, with $3.4 billion due to arrive in 2008 alone.
Russia has pledged a $10 million donation to aid the struggling Palestinian government. Meanwhile the European Union has pledged $630 million, the US $555 million, Saudi Arabia $500 million, the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Britain, France and Germany pledged $300 million, Norway $140 million and Spain $60 million.
Portuguese Foreign Affairs Minister Luis Amado also called on both sides to work towards peace: "The rocket attacks on Israel must be stopped immediately, as these hamper peace efforts. Alongside this, Israel must ease travel restrictions on Palestinians while removing roadblocks and opening passages to Gaza for humanitarian and commercial purposes."
US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said the international community must act now to help create a Palestinian state alongside Israel.
Earlier in the day Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas also called on Israel to immediately cease all settlement activity in the West Bank.
"I will gladly implement all of the obligations put on the Palestinians within the road map and I expect the Israelis to do the same, comprehensively and without excuses," said Abbas, adding Israel should "stop all settlement construction immediately."
