Putin: We Support the Establishment of a Palestinian State with Jerusalem as Its Capital

Vladimir Putin, the President of Russia, announced that Moscow will assist in the formation of an independent Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital through bilateral and multilateral actions, including within the framework of the Quartet for Peace. According to the Russian presidential office, Mr. Putin on Saturday, April 8, sent a message to the Arab League summit in Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt, calling for closer cooperation between the Quartet for Peace and the Arab League. The Quartet for Peace, which includes Russia, the United States, the European Union, and the United Nations, was established in 2002 with the aim of mediating peace in the Middle East. The summit of Arab League member states has begun today in Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt. Palestinians are seeking to establish an independent state in Gaza, the West Bank, and East Jerusalem. Israel occupied East Jerusalem in the 1967 war. The United Nations and the International Court of Justice consider the occupation of the West Bank and East Jerusalem illegal since 1967 (almost 50 years ago). Meanwhile, Benjamin Netanyahu, the Prime Minister of Israel, stated just hours before the latest Israeli parliamentary elections that if he wins, he will oppose the establishment of an independent Palestinian state. Following these remarks, Ban Ki-moon, the UN Secretary-General, on March 20, contacted Mr. Netanyahu and urged him to reaffirm Israel's commitment to a two-state solution, meaning the establishment of a Palestinian state. After the elections, the Israeli Prime Minister said that his statements do not mean a retreat from his six-year-old remarks about a 'demilitarized Palestine that recognizes the Jewish state' and that he simply believes 'the conditions for this are not yet in place.' Denis McDonough, the White House Chief of Staff, also remarked on Monday, April 3, referring to Mr. Netanyahu's statements about the non-establishment of a Palestinian state as long as he is in power, stating that 'the occupation (of the West Bank) that has lasted almost 50 years must come to an end.' The White House has reiterated after the victory of Netanyahu's Likud party in the Israeli elections that the best solution for resolving the Palestinian-Israeli crisis is the establishment of an independent Palestinian state.