MOSCOW, December 13, 2011 (WAFA) – The Russian foreign ministry said in a statement published Monday that Israeli settlement activities in the Palestinian Territory seized in 1967 are “illegal” according to international law.

The ministry issued a statement regarding continued Israeli settlement activity in the occupied Palestinian Territory, especially after reports of approving the building of 40 housing units in Efrat settlement near Bethlehem and the building of 14 housing units in the East Jerusalem neighborhood of Ras al-Amoud.

The statement said Israeli settlement activity is a key reason for the impasse in the Middle East peace process, and affects very negatively the efforts of the Middle East Quartet to re-launch negotiations between the Israelis and Palestinians based on international resolutions.

R.Q./F.J.