Russia Joins U.S., EU in Concern over Israeli Outposts

Russia on Thursday joined the United States and the European Union in expressing concern over Israel's decision to legalize three settler outposts in West Bank.

"Moscow is treating this information with serious concern," the foreign ministry said in a statement, noting that the move in the occupied Palestinian territory "affects the chances" of new talks being held by the two sides.

An Israeli ministerial committee decided Tuesday to legalize three settler outposts which were established in the 1990s but did not have Israeli legal status.

They will join the 120 official settlements across the occupied West Bank that are home to more than 342,000 people.

The EU called on Israel on Wednesday to reverse its decision to legalize the outposts.

"I am extremely concerned about the decision of the Israeli authorities regarding the status of the settlements of Sansana, Rechelim and Bruchin in the occupied Palestinian territory," said EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton.

"I call upon them to reverse this decision," she said in a statement.

The United States also voiced concern about the decision, saying it was unhelpful to efforts to make peace with the Palestinians. Washington asked the government of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for "clarification."