Putin says Israel took some 'genuinely Palestinian lands' mainly through 'use of military force'

By Elena Teslova

MOSCOW (AA) – Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Wednesday that Israel took some "genuinely Palestinian lands" mainly through the "use of military force."

Speaking at the Russian Energy Week forum in Moscow, Putin said the Palestinian problem is "in the heart of everyone who professes Islam, and they perceive it all as a manifestation of injustice, elevated to an unthinkable degree."

"The Palestinian issue is at the heart of every person in this region. Yes, I believe that in the heart of everyone who professes Islam... Everything that is happening – not only now, but for decades – is perceived as a manifestation of injustice raised to some unthinkable degree," he said.

Originally the idea was to establish two independent sovereign states, Israel and Palestine, but the decision was only implemented partially, he noted.

"Moreover, part of the lands that the Palestinians have always considered to be genuinely Palestinian, it is taken by Israel – at different times and in different ways, but mostly, of course, with the help of military force," he said.