Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said...

Ban is currently on an official visit to Moscow to take part in a meeting of the Middle East Quartet of international mediators and met Lavrov on Thursday.

"We have highlighted the importance of doing everything possible at this stage to ensure renewed talks between the Israelis and Palestinians," Lavrov said after the meeting.

Ban said that after the Quartet"s meeting in Moscow he will travel to Israel and Gaza. He intends to hold talks with both the Israelis and the Palestinians and evaluate the humanitarian situation in the region.

He added that there is no alternative to direct talks between the Israelis and the Palestinians and the UN will call on both to resume the negotiations.

Israel last week announced the go-ahead for the building of 1,600 housing units for Jewish families in the disputed area of East Jerusalem just as the Middle East peace talks were restarting after a 15-month break. The Palestinian authorities have threatened to halt negotiations

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