"Moscow expresses grave concern over this settlement projects. We still believe that Israeli settlements on the West Bank, including in East Jerusalem, are illegal in accordance with international law," the ministry's statement reads.
According to the statement, Israel's plans violate decisions of the Middle East Quartet calling on the country to abandon its settlement policy on the Palestinian territories.
Palestinians seek to create a diplomatically recognized independent state on the territories of the West Bank, including East Jerusalem and the Gaza Strip, according to the frontiers that were in existence before the 1967 Six-Day War with Israel. The international community did not recognize the annexation of East Jerusalem by Israel in 1967.
Israel has long been building settlements in the occupied lands of the West Bank despite opposition from the United Nations.
