Russia has asked Iran and
Syria
to help persuade the Palestinian Islamist movement Hamas to accept an Egyptian proposal on ending the fighting in Gaza, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Friday.
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| Defense Ministry official to return to Cairo / Roni Sofer |
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Olmert, Livni and Barak end five-hour discussion on Egyptian initiative for ceasefire in Gaza, decide to send Amos Gilad, head of Defense Ministry's Security-Diplomatic Bureau, back to Cairo Friday morning in order to present Israel's stance |
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"Egypt's initiative ... is, for us, optimal and we believe all efforts should be thrown into supporting it," Lavrov told a news conference.
"In connection with this we are sending corresponding signals to representatives of Hamas, and those states which have influence on Hamas," he said.
"First and foremost that is Iran and Syria. We have spoken to our colleagues. I hope that everyone will concentrate on this."
The Egyptian peace plan includes securing the Egypt-Gaza border, across which Israel alleges weapons are smuggled, and ending the Israeli blockade of Gaza.
Israel said its three-week offensive in Gaza, which has killed more than 1,100 Palestinians, could be in the "final act" on Friday after Hamas made a ceasefire offer.
Russia maintains close ties to Tehran and Damascus and has official contacts with Hamas, which is shunned by Western powers for refusing to abandon its objective of destroying the Jewish state.
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