CANBERRA, April 11, 2012 (WAFA) – The Australian Minister for Foreign Affairs Bob Carr Wednesday condemned an Israeli decision to expand settlements in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, according to a statement issued by the ministry.

He said the Israeli decision to expand settlements will further complicate the peace process.

Carr urged the Israeli government to uphold its obligations stated in the Quartet’s Road Map that outlines a peaceful settlement for the Palestinian-Israeli conflict.

He said unilateral Israeli steps will not help bring the two parties back to the negotiating table, which he says forms the only solution to establish two states, one Palestinian and the other Israeli.

T.R./M.S.