United Nations (PTI): Appealing to all parties in the Middle East to eschew violence, India has stressed on the necessity of arriving at a "lasting and durable solution" to various inter-related tracks that constitute problems in the region.

Addressing the United Nations General Assembly, Indian MP Saleem I. Shervani warned the international community against allowing the tragedy in the Middle East to continue to fester in the inter-connected world.

"We must seize the moment, in our collective interest, so as to enable the vision of an independent, viable and sovereign State of Palestine, living side-by-side and in peace with Israel, and a larger Middle East whose constituent nations remain at peace with each other and with the world at large," he said.

Despite the hope engendered by the Annapolis meeting almost a year ago, the lack of substantive progress remains a matter of abiding concern, he said, expressing "grave concern" over Gaza remaining cut off because of Israeli blockade and barriers to free movement in the West Bank.

Expressing concern of "relentless" expansion of "illegal" settlements on occupied Arab lands and construction of separation wall by Israel, he said they accentuate the already existing problems.

All acts of violenceno matter by whom only vitiate the atmosphere for a result-oriented dialogue based on trust, without which no solution is possible, he said.

"This is in no party's interest, as it makes it hard for the parties to make the necessary compromises to resolve the key issues relating to an independent, sovereign and viable Palestinian State, a solution to the problem of refugees, and the question of Jerusalem," Shervani added.