During his meeting with Israeli President Shimon Peres inJerusalem on Sunday, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Moscow intends to call for an international peace summit on the Middle East in the first half of 2009 with the participation of all of the region's major players, including Lebanon.
He said Russia was also involved in the Egyptian-brokered talks between the rival Palestinian factions and was being briefed on the efforts to achieve a ceasefire between Hamas and Israel.
'TV failed to capture what really happened.' Peres and Lavrov meet (Photo: AP)
Peres told Russia's top diplomat that while Israel strives for peace, it will not accept rocket fire on its communities. "We are interested in a comprehensive peace agreement not only with the Palestinians, but with all of the region's Arab countries," the president said.
During the meeting Lavrov and Peres discussed the media's coverage of Israel's recent three-week military offensive in Gaza.
"The television stations failed to capture what really happened," Peres said in response to Lavrov's comment that hard images were broadcast from the Strip, "they did not show the million mothers in south Israel who could not put their children to bed. Israel cannot accept rocket fire and attacks on its civilian population.
"All of the suffering in Gaza could have been avoided had Hamas refrained from firing rockets on Israel," Peres said. "We too have red lines that any sovereign nation would not allow anyone to cross."