MOSCOW, October 19, 2011 (WAFA) – The Russian Foreign Ministry expressed deep concern at the Israeli government’s plans to build new housing units in East Jerusalem, said a press release issued by the ministry on Monday.

“The realization by Israeli authorities of such plans, just like the intention to legalize the many settlement outposts built in occupied Palestinian territories, run absolutely counter to the commitments of the Israeli side under the Roadmap,” said the press release.

Russia expressed particular worry and warned from an extremely adverse impact of the Israeli plan on the efforts of the international community, under the auspices of the international Quartet of Middle East peace mediators, to restart Israeli-Palestinian negotiations on the well-known international legal bases, in accordance with the statement issued at the end of the Quartet meeting in New York on September 23, 2011.

Russia called on the Israeli government to “renounce the continuation of settlement activity in occupied territories, refraining from any steps that prejudge the status of Jerusalem and the borders of a future Palestinian state,” which must be determined in the course of negotiations between the sides.

According to media reports, the Israeli government plans to start implementing a new settlement project (2610 housing units with subsequent expansion to 4200) in the existing Jewish settlement of Givat Hamatos in the southern part of East Jerusalem.

R.Q./F.J.