Russia "concerned" over Israel settlement plans


AFP
 Date: 03-26-05

MOSCOW (AFP) - Russia voiced concern over Israel's plans to construct more Jewish settlement blocs in the West Bank, slamming the move as contradicting the terms of the Middle East peace roadmap, the foreign ministry said in a statement.

"Israel's announced plans to build more than 3,500 new homes between Maaleh Adumim (the most populous settlement in the West Bank) and Jerusalem cannot but give us concern," the ministry said.

"Realization of this project would go against Israel's obligations according to the roadmap, which provides for a freeze on all settlement activity, including natural growth of such settlements," the statement read.

"Thus we call on the Israeli leadership to refrain from any steps that would complicate efforts on restoring a full-scale peace process with the Palestinians," the ministry said.

Russia is one of the four sponsors of the troubled Middle East peace roadmap which aims for the creation of a Palestinian state in 2005 but has made next to no progress since its launch last year.

Israel's announcement of settlement plans sparked an angry Palestinian response and concern from the international community.

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