Russia: Israel's new Jerusalem housing units 'illegal'

The Russian Foreign Ministry on Friday described Israel’s recent decision to build a host of new Jewish-only housing units in the occupied West Bank as “illegal”.

“In accordance with international law, this decision by Israel is illegal,” the ministry said in a statement.

Israeli plans to build hundreds of homes in the occupied Palestinian territories – for the exclusive use of Jewish settlers – constituted a “serious” concern for Moscow, the ministry added.

It went on to assert that the move lacked any legal basis and would hinder efforts to reach a lasting peace in the Middle East.

Russia has called on Israel to stop building settlements in the occupied West Bank and East Jerusalem to preserve the notion of a “two-state solution”.

On Tuesday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu approved construction of 2,500 new West Bank settlement units.

The announcement was the second of its kind since Donald Trump assumed the US presidency.

On Sunday, Israel’s Jerusalem Municipality approved construction of 566 new Jewish-only housing units in East Jerusalem.