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The United States, United Nations, Russia and European Union condemned Israel on Friday for approving 1,600 new homes in east Jerusalem, which the Palestinians want as their future capital. UNITED NATIONS (AP) — The United States, United Nations, Russia and European Union condemned Israel on Friday for approving 1,600 new homes in east Jerusalem, which the Palestinians want as their future capital.

A statement from the so-called Quartet of Mideast peacemakers reaffirmed that unilateral action by the Israelis or Palestinians "cannot prejudge the outcome of (peace) negotiations and will not be recognized by the international community."

"The Quartet condemns Israel's decision to advance planning for new housing units in east Jerusalem," the statement said. "The Quartet has agreed to closely monitor developments in Jerusalem and to keep under consideration additional steps that may be required to address the situation on the ground."

It did not say what steps were under consideration, but said "the Quartet will take full stock of the situation at its meeting in Moscow on March 19."

Asked to respond to the Quartet's condemnation, Israel's U.N. Mission repeated a statement made Thursday by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in response to the EU's condemnation. It said planning for the East Jerusalem project took several years and final approval "in all likelihood will take more than a year and the beginning of the actual construction would likely take several years."

Israel's announcement earlier this week of more east Jerusalem construction angered visiting U.S. Vice President Joseph Biden and the Palestinians as well.

Only days earlier, the Palestinians agreed to begin indirect peace talks with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government, dropping a demand for a full settlement freeze before talks begin. Netanyahu has agreed only to a limited slowdown that does not include east Jerusalem, which Israel sees as part of its capital.

The Quartet called "on all concerned to support the urgent resumption of dialogue between the parties and to promote an atmosphere that is conducive to successful negotiations to resolve all outstanding issues of the conflict."

The group reiterated that Arab-Israeli peace "and the establishment of an independent, contiguous and viable state of Palestine is in the fundamental interests of the parties, of all states in the region, and of the international community."

Before going into closed talks with U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton said the Quartet meeting in Moscow "will take stock of the progress that has been made in relaunching negotiations."

"The world community has to stand strongly in favor of a two-state solution," she said.

Clinton reiterated the U.S. commitment to working with the U.N. and other Quartet members "in moving this forward."

Ban expressed appreciation for Clinton's leadership in getting the stalled peace process to resume through indirect talks.

"I hope this Moscow Quartet will provide a very important opportunity for us to work together for the peace process, eventually leading to direct negotiations," he said. "I count on your leadership."