Putin calls President Abbas to discuss ‘tensions’

Russian President Vladimir Putin held a phone call this week with Palestinian Authority (PA) President Mahmoud Abbas to discuss tensions in Jerusalem and negotiations between Russia and Ukraine, the Russian state-owned news agency RIA claims.

According to the report, Putin updated Abbas on “Russia’s special military operation to defend the Donbas region” in eastern Ukraine. The phone call reportedly took place at the Palestinian leader’s behest.

With the war in Ukraine driving up food prices globally, Putin also assured Abbas during the phone call that Moscow will provide the
Palestinians with “Russian wheat, materials and crops”.

The Palestinian official news agency Wafa said Putin “stressed Russia’s firm position in support of the rights of the Palestinian people, and that Russia will continue to accord its political support to the Palestinian cause in all international forums, and what is happening in Jerusalem and al-Aqsa Mosque”.

Wafa also reported that the Russian leader rejected “the Israeli practices that prevent worshippers from freely accessing the al-Aqsa Mosque”, adding that Israel must “respect the existing historical status quo” at the holy site.

Russia has long been a champion of the Palestinian cause, with PA hoping Moscow will play a more central role in mediating between it and Israel.

Abbas updated Putin on the “daily incursions into al-Aqsa Mosque by extremist Israelis under the protection of the Israeli occupation forces,” according to Wafa.

On Sunday, Palestinian rioters threw rocks at Israeli buses en route to the Western Wall in Jerusalem’s Old City, as well as in the Temple Mount compound, in an attempt to prevent non-Muslims from touring the site.

Police responded by entering the complex and dispersing the crowd with riot control measures.

According to the Red Crescent, 17 Palestinians were treated for injuries sustained on Sunday morning in clashes with police at the site, five of whom were taken to the hospital. Police said nine Palestinians were arrested.

Police also said officers worked to distance the Palestinians to allow the Temple Mount visits to go ahead, and Jewish visitors were later seen touring the site.

Prime Minister Naftali Bennett said Israeli forces have “free rein” to continue operations to maintain security while stressing that officials were working to restore calm.