MOSCOW. Nov 13 (Interfax) - Moscow is concerned about Israeli plans to expand housing construction projects in the areas adjoining East Jerusalem and to build homes on the West Bank.
"We reaffirm our principled stand on Israeli settlement projects - pursuant to universal norms of international law, they are illegal and must be stopped," says a commentary of the Russian Foreign Ministry's information and press department posted on Wednesday.
"Moscow is profoundly concerned about the Israeli Housing and Construction Ministry's tender for building 1,200 homes in the E1 zone adjoining East Jerusalem and the Israeli plans to build another 20,000 homes on the West Bank of the Jordan River within a period of seven years," it said.
"The publicized home construction plans endanger further negotiations between Palestinians and Israelis," the Russian Foreign Ministry stressed.
"In this context we welcome the order given by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to the Housing and Construction Ministry to rethink the approved home construction plans. We deem necessary the reciprocal steps of the Israeli and Palestinian sides aimed to create a favorable atmosphere around the negotiating process," the commentary said.