MOSCOW, August 29 (RIA Novosti) - The Russian Foreign Ministry released a statement Monday condemning Sunday's terrorist attack in Beersheba, southern Israel.
"Moscow strongly condemns this and other terrorist attacks, including the murder by an Israeli of four Palestinians in the West Bank," the statement said.
The ministry said the crimes were condemned by both Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon and Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas.
"This demonstrates the unchanging goal of both the Palestinian and Israeli leaderships and security forces not to be diverted from dialogue and the joint action that has been developing since Israel withdrew Jewish settlers from the Gaza strip," the statement said.
"We are keeping lines open with Israel and Palestine to improve bilateral coordination and broaden contacts on all levels, in particular to prevent attempts on both sides by extremists to create tension," the statement said.
The statement also expressed the hope that "the joint work, in the context of Israel's withdrawal from Gaza and a part of Jordan's West Bank, will produce good results," and will support the roadmap for peace (a multilateral plan for resolving the Israeli-Palestinian conflict).
