Lavrov warns Israeli settlements may soon make Palestinian state impossible

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Thursday that the creation of a Palestinian state may soon become impossible, stressing that it is time to resolve the issue of guaranteeing statehood for the Palestinian people.

Speaking at the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly, Lavrov said: "We are convinced that the time has come to resolve the central issue in the Middle East, which is ensuring statehood for the Palestinian people based on numerous UN resolutions. Nearly a year ago, the Security Council, at the initiative of the United States, approved a peace plan for the Gaza Strip, yet peace has not been achieved there."

Lavrov noted that the situation in the West Bank is deteriorating as Israel expands its settlement activities. He warned that if this continues, the establishment of a Palestinian state will become impossible, as there will simply be no geographic space left for it.