Putin pledges backing for Palestinian state

29 March 2015, 6:04 pm

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Russian President Vladimir Putin says his country will support efforts to build a Palestinian state with a capital in East Jerusalem.

Putin pledged his support Saturday during a meeting of the Arab League in Sharm el-Sheik.

“Palestinians have the right to establish an independent and habitable state with a capital in east Jerusalem,” Putin reportedly tells the leaders of 22 Arab states, according to media reports.

He adds: “Russia will continue to contribute to achieving this goal through bilateral and multilateral channels.”

Russian President Vladimir Putin smiles as he attends a meeting with his Kyrgyz counterpart in Saint Petersburg on March 16, 2015. photo credit: AFP/POOL/ANATOLY MALTSEV)

Putin reportedly also called Netanyahu to congratulate him on his reelection and to discuss the talks on Iran’s nuclear program, to which Russia is a party as one of the P5+1 world powers.

— JTA