Russia: Russia said on Wednesday that it was “deeply concerned” by Israel’s decision to construct hundreds of new homes in east Jerusalem in a move to punish the Palestinians for joining UNESCO.

Israel’s housing ministry said on Tuesday that it had published formal notice of its intention to invite tenders to build more than 800 new homes in two neighbourhoods of occupied and annexed east Jerusalem. The announcement “can only provoke deep concern,” said a statement from the Russian foreign ministry. AFP