Source: Agence France Presse
Oct 12, 2006
Prime Minister Ehud Olmert urged Moscow in an interview with Russian media to play a greater role in the Middle East peace process.
Olmert cited Russia's considerable influence with Israel's Arab neighbors, which dates back to the Soviet Union's support of the Arab world in its battle against the US-backed Jewish state.
A greater Russian role in the so-called "peace" process is likely to concern many in Israel, considering Moscow's failure to blacklist the Hamas-led Palestinian Authority over its policy of seeking Israel's demise.
When the Hamas government was installed in March of this year, Russia immediately invited its top members to Moscow for talks.