Egypt fears a total failure of Israeli-Palestinian peace talks due to Israel's plans to resume construction in East Jerusalem, a spokesman for the Egyptian Foreign Ministry said on Saturday.
Israel announced on October 15 its intention to build new Jewish settlements in the area of East Jerusalem where Palestinian Arabic community constitutes a majority.
"Israel seems to be withdrawing from its commitments to peace efforts," spokesman Hossam Zaki said.
He said that Israel bears full responsibility for current problems and the United States, the key mediator at the Israeli-Palestinian talks, and other members of the Middle East Quartet (Russia, the European Union and the United Nations) should interfere in the situation.
Direct talks between Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu resumed on September 2 in Washington, after an almost two-year hiatus but are on the verge of breaking down over the issue of Israeli construction in the occupied West Bank.
The Russian Foreign Ministry said earlier on Saturday that Israel should reconsider its building plans in East Jerusalem.
"These Israeli government's plans are perceived with an extreme concern and disappointment in Moscow. They contradict international efforts aimed at the resumption of direct Israeli-Palestinian negotiations," the ministry said in a statement.
CAIRO, October 16 (RIA Novosti)
