MOSCOW PLAYING GREATER ROLE IN MIDEAST CONFLICT

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov is wrapping up a two-and-a-half day tour to Israel, the Palestinian Authority and Egypt.

Like most government trips, a dozen meetings are crammed into a few days with the occasional press conference shedding light on some of the issues being discussed behind closed doors. The Middle East peace process and Iran's nuclear programme seems to have dominated the agenda.

On the topic of Iran, Lavrov says that imposing sanctions against Tehran will not yield positive results. He's proposed resuming dialogue between the five permanent members of the UN Security Council, Germany and Iran.

Lavrov says that the Mideast Quartet is important - but insufficient - in moving the Israeli/Palestinian conflict towards some kind of resolution. The two sides are still "talking" indirectly through American mediators. Lavrov stressed the need for the talks to move from indirect to direct.

Lavrov also re-iterated Moscow's proposal for a Mideast conference to be held in the Russian capital.

Israeli Foreign Minister, Avigdor Lieberman, told his Russian counterpart that there was "no chance" of there being a Palestinian state before 2012. He also said Israel opposed Russia's advances to Hamas, the Palestinian militant group in Gaza Israel regards as a terrorist organisation. Lavrov re-iterated Russia's position that they will continue to hold dialogue with Hamas as they believe it is a legitimate voice for many Palestinians, elected by a majority in Gaza. Despite his foreign minister's comments, Israeli Prime Minister Binjamin Netanyahu asked Lavrov if he would put pressure on Hamas to release captured Israeli soldier, Gilad Shalit, whose been held by Hamas in Gaza for four years.

In May Russia sent 10 000 tonnes of wheat to Gaza. Moscow sees Israel's blockade on the coastal strip as counterproductive and unsustainable. Lavrov says the way forward needs to be through economic development.

Through my work in the region, I have found among Palestinians a lot of support for Moscow playing a greater role in the Middle East. Israelis themselves are less sure of it.