The building of new Israeli settlements in West Bank (Photo: AFP)

According to the ministry’s statement, Moscow believes Israel’s move does not help create the conditions for establishing direct negotiations between Israel and Palestine. It added that the continuation of Israeli settlement activities eliminates the chances of achieving a just and reliable peace in the Middle East. Russia confirmed its “principled position” on the illegality of Israeli settlement activity in the Palestinian territories, including East Jerusalem.

Israel on Thursday approved the construction of hundreds of new housing units for Jewish settlers in the occupied West Bank. According to the Israeli anti-settlement group Peace Now, Israeli officials last year approved the construction of more than 6,700 new settlement units in the West Bank and East Jerusalem, the highest number since 2013.