Iran Press/ Middle East: The Russian Foreign Ministry has said in a statement that its position on the Zionist regime's settlements had not changed.
َAccording to Iran Press, the Russian Foreign Ministry responded to recent statements of the US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo about changing US stance about Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank.
The Ministry's statement said that "Moscow's position on the West Bank settlement issue has not changed."
Russia's Foreign Ministry condemned Washington's change of policy in a statement on Tuesday, warning the move would escalate tensions in the region and erode the path to a peaceful settlement on the basis of a two-state solution.
“We consider Washington’s decision as another step aimed at scrapping the international legal base of the Middle East settlement,” Moscow stated, adding the US move will only further undermine the “already tense situation in Palestinian-Israeli relations.”
"We have previously stated that these settlements are illegal and undermine the legal basis for a settlement of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict" Russian foreign ministry's statement added.
Recently, Mike Pompeo, the US secretary of State said in a news conference that Washington no longer considers Israeli settlements in Palestinian territory to be in violation of international law.
The remarks have also prompted opposition from Palestinian, European Union and Egyptian groups.
By building Zionist settlements, the Israeli regime seeks to change the demography of the Palestinian territories and give them a Zionist image to consolidate their domination over the land.
In a statement issued early Tuesday by High Representative/Vice-President Federica Mogherini, she said, "The European Union's position on Israeli settlement policy in the occupied Palestinian territory is clear and remains unchanged."
Hamas Spokesman Hazim Qasim also condemned Pompeo's statements, describing it as a violation of international law. 212/ 211/ 205
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