Moscow, August 14 (KCNA) -- A spokesman for the Russian Foreign Ministry on August 12 accused Israel of its moves to expand Jewish settlements.

The Israeli authorities are planning to build new Jewish settlements in east Kuds. In this regard the spokesman branded this as a move to hamstring the efforts of the international community to resume the Palestine-Israel peace talks.

The illegal plan will also further strain the situation in the Mideast, he added.