MOSCOW. Aug 12 (Interfax) - Russia hopes that Israel will change its mind about plans to expand its settlements in East Jerusalem.
"We have already said more than once that decisions regarding Israeli settlement activities in East Jerusalem and other places on the occupied Palestinian territories cannot help but cause serious concern and condemnation. They further complicate the difficult, explosive situation in the Middle East settlement process, they are illegal and run counter to efforts of the international community, primarily the Quartet of international mediators," Russian Foreign Ministry spokesman Alexander Lukashevich said in a commentary on Friday.
"We hope that the Israeli side will reconsider these plans," he said.
Lukashevich also called on the Israeli and Palestinian authorities to refrain from taking any "unilateral steps capable of provoking a further escalation and standing in the way of the search for a solution to the present situation."