The Russian government on Thursday called for the immediate release of an Israeli soldier and an end to acts of "terrorism."

"The Israeli serviceman must be released immediately. This release will meet the Palestinian national interests," Foreign Ministry spokesman Mikhail Kamynin was quoted by the Interfax news agency as saying.

The Israeli-Palestinian situation is now "very complicated," Kamynin said, "it requires urgent efforts to prevent further dangerous destabilization in the region, and self-control and wisdom of all sides."

"The Palestinian administration, all Palestinian organizations and movements should do their best to stop terrorism and bombings in Israeli cities," he said.

Nineteen-year-old Israeli Corporal Gilad Shalit was seized during a raid by Palestinian militants on an outpost near the Gaza border early on Sunday. Two other Israeli soldiers and two militants were killed in the gun battle.

Israel retaliated by sending ground troops to the Gaza area and launching air strikes on Palestinian targets.

Early on Thursday, Israeli forces arrested a number of officials in the Hamas-led cabinet, including Labor Minister Muhammad Barghouti, Finance Minister Omar Abdel Razek and Minister of Jerusalem Affairs Khaled Abu Arfa.

Source: Xinhua