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Middle East conflict

Russian Foreign Ministry says US move on Israeli settlements will whip up tensions

US Secretary of State Michael Pompeo said on Monday Washington no longer considered Israeli settlements in the West Bank as violating international law

Russian Foreign Ministry Mikhail Japaridze/TASS

Russian Foreign Ministry

© Mikhail Japaridze/TASS

MOSCOW, November 19. /TASS/. The United States’ review of its stance on Israeli settlement construction in the West Bank and the announcement that Washington no longer views these activities as illegal will exacerbate tensions in Palestinian-Israeli ties.

"We consider this Washington’s decision as another step aimed at ruining an international legal basis of the Middle East settlement that will exacerbate tensions in Palestinian-Israeli relations," the ministry issued a statement.

Read also

US announces review of stance on Israeli settlements in West Bank

"We are urging all concerned parties to refrain from any steps that could provoke a new dangerous escalation in the region and impede the creation of conditions for resuming direct Palestinian-Israeli talks," it emphasized.

Russia’s principled stance was outlined in the United Nations Security Council Resolution 2334 stating that "the establishment by Israel of settlements in the Palestinian territory occupied since 1967, including East Jerusalem, has no legal validity and constitutes a flagrant violation under international law and a major obstacle to the achievement of the two-State [Palestine-Israel] solution and a just, lasting and comprehensive peace."

US Secretary of State Michael Pompeo informed on Monday that Washington no longer considered Israeli settlements in the West Bank as violating international law. Israel hailed this decision while the Palestinian side said the US administration had no authority to terminate international resolutions concerning Israeli settlements.

In December 2016, the United Nations Security Council passed Resolution 2334 demanding Israel stop its settlement activities on the occupied Palestinian territories. Israel refused to implement this document.

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