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Sunday 24 July 2011

UN, EU warn Israel over building in WB

UN and EU have expressed concern about Israel's settlement plans in the West Bank, saying the move would be against international law.


UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon voiced concern about the Israeli settlement constructions in the West Bank and urged Israel to stop all settlement activities in the Palestinian territories.

"The secretary-general has stressed many times before that settlement construction or expansion is contrary to international law," a UN statement said.

The statement added, "The settlement plans are also contrary to Israel's commitments under the international Road Map plan for Middle East peace, and against its commitments in the Annapolis conference."

Ban Ki-moon also urged Israel to heed the call of the Middle East Quartet --the diplomatic grouping comprising the UN, the European Union, Russia and the United States -- to "freeze all settlement activity, including natural growth, and to dismantle outposts erected since March 2001", Xinhua reported.

In a statement France, which holds the European Union's rotating presidency until the end of the year, also expressed concern about the Israeli settlement activities.

The statement said that the Israeli plans to expand the Jewish settlements in the West Bank would obstruct the peace process between Palestinians and Israelis.

"The implanting of settlements whereever they may be in the Palestinian territories … is illegal under international law", the statement said.

On Thursday, Israel approved the construction of 20 new housing units in the West Bank.

Although Israel has committed not to establish new settlements in the West Bank, in recent months it has announced the construction of hundreds of new Jewish settlement homes in the territory.

The international community, including the United Nations Security Council, has never recognized Israel's settlements in the occupied territories.

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