President Vladimir Putin Calls Palestinian Leader To Discuss Middle East Problems Solving

Russian President Vladimir Putin with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas. (Wikimedia Commons/Kremlin.ru/Press Service of the President of Russia)

JAKARTA - Russian President Vladimir Putin spoke with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas on the phone on Monday, amid rising tensions in Jerusalem following the storming of the Al-Aqsa Mosque last Friday.

President Putin discussed the Middle East settlement discussed in the context of escalating tensions in the West Bank and East Jerusalem, in his phone call with President Abbas.

Launching the official Kremlin website on April 18, it is hoped that the recent tensions will not develop into a large-scale Palestinian-Israeli confrontation.

"The importance of restarting direct dialogue between Palestine and Israel, in particular, under the auspices of the Quartet of international mediators," the Kremlin said.

On the occasion, President Putin also informed about the ongoing special military operation to protect Donbass. As well as the development of internal negotiations between Russia and Ukraine.

"Topical issues of bilateral cooperation, especially in the trade and economic fields, were brought up. The joint disposition to further develop friendly Russian-Palestinian relations was reaffirmed," explained the Kremlin.

The Kremlin added that the two leaders agreed to continue contacts between them. The Russian president also wished President Abbas a happy worship in the month of Ramadan and the Palestinian people.

It was reported earlier that on Friday, at least 152 Palestinians were injured in clashes with Israeli riot police inside the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound, the latest in an upsurge in violence that has raised fears of a return to the wider conflict.

Most Palestinian injuries were caused by rubber bullets, stun grenades and beatings with police batons, the Palestinian Red Crescent said.