Russia regards construction of barriers by Israel as illegal

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov told reporters in Moscow on Wednesday that the construction of barriers along West Bank being carried out by Israel was illegal.

"Russia, as well as the European Union and the majority of countries of the world, believes that it is illegal to build that wall," said Mr Lavrov.

Russia did not raise the problem at the United Nations or other international organisations to prove that the construction runs counter to agreements on the settlement of the conflict between Palestine and Israel, according to Mr Lavrov.

A new UN resolution on Middle East was supported by 150 countries, including the EU and Russia, above all because it is of immense political importance. "It contains a message for the Palestinians and Israelis that they must stop using methods other than those stipulated in the Roadmap," said Mr Lavrov.

Russia called on Palestine and Israel to refrain from unilateral moves, including from building the separating wall, the Russian foreign ministry said in a press release following the UN resolution on Middle East.

"Russia has emphasised on many occasions that parties to the conflict must refrain from unilateral moves and actions, including from building a separating war, which would predestine final settlement parameters," reads the statement.

The Russian ministry believes the new resolution will promote the resumption of the political process and eventually the settlement of the Palestinian-Israeli and other regional conflicts.