According to the Russian Foreign Ministry, the Kremlin has instructed Hamas to halt rocket into southern Israel, Russian news agencies are reporting.

It appears the request was made during a telephone call this week between Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and Hamas politburo leader Khalid Meshal, with the reports stating the foreign minister stressed the rocket fire is unacceptable as far as Russia is concerned.

According to a Yisrael HaYom report on erev shabbos, Meshal stated Hamas in uninterested in an escalation of warfare with Israel at this time and Hamas wishes to restore quite. In the meantime, a rocket landed in southern Israel on Thursday night.

The two also discussed efforts to renew talks between Israel and the PA (Palestinian Authority). There is no indication that the matter of Gilad Shalit was raised during the conversation.

Foreign media reports this week indicate that the German mediator working between Israel and Hamas has returned to duty, seeking to hammer out a deal that will result in Shalit’s release as he marks his fourth Pesach in Hamas captivity.

(Yechiel Spira – YWN Israel)