Maria Zakharova’s statement on the situation in the Palestinian-Israeli settlement
Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova’s statement on the situation in the Palestinian-Israeli settlement (June 8, 2026)
💬 We have noted that in recent times, a number of think tanks funded by Western government structures have once again begun promoting various “alternative schemes” for the future of Palestine.
Specifically, these entities are reviving questionable proposals implying the association of Palestinian territories with neighbouring Arab states.
There is nothing new in these leaks. Similar ideas have been voiced before and have been firmly rejected both by the Palestinian people and by Arab states. History has demonstrated that these initiatives are absolutely untenable and at variance with the international legal framework for Palestinian settlement, including UN Security Council and General Assembly resolutions, the Arab Peace Initiative, as well as the Madrid Principles.
The advocates of these “alternative concepts” are those who undermine the aforementioned decisions, disregard the will of the peoples of the region, and espouse neo-colonialism.
Instead of pursuing the dismantling of international law and engaging in detached experimentation, the tragic consequences of which are evident to all, efforts should focus on launching direct negotiations between Palestinians and Israelis. In practical terms, the parties should address the final status of the Palestinian territories and the parameters of the two-state formula, which must be acceptable to all parties involved.
We have repeatedly stressed that attempts to proceed with Middle East settlement while bypassing the positions of Arab states are doomed to failure and will not lead to sustainable stability. This is particularly relevant today, when the security of the Middle East is being tested by a new acute crisis provoked by the US and Israeli attack on Iran. The only viable alternative in this context is the establishment of coordinated international and regional efforts.
The Russian stance is characterised by consistency and is based on the trust shown by countries of the region in our foreign policy. We advocate a negotiated settlement of the Palestinian issue and other regional contradictions.
🇵🇸 It is essential that historical justice prevail, and that the Palestinians be given the opportunity to establish an independent state in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, with its capital in East Jerusalem, coexisting in peace and security with Israel.
We are open to engagement on this basis with constructively minded partners. It is important that all external actors strictly adhere to binding UN Security Council resolutions, act according to unified rules, and send coordinated signals to all parties to the conflict.
Russia’s initiatives, in particular the UN-endorsed proposal to convene an international conference on the Middle East, are aimed precisely at achieving these objectives.