Israeli settlements violate international law: UN
Ban Ki-moon "deeply concerned" by continued settlements
U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon Wednesday denounced Israel's plans to build new Jewish settler homes in the occupied territories as "contrary to international law" as he urged Tel Aviv to end all such activity.
Ban "noted with deep concern" an Israeli decision on Monday to approve further construction in settlements in the occupied territory, a statement issued by his office said.
"Such actions and all settlement activity are contrary to international law and the roadmap," it said, referring to the international plan for a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
"The Secretary-General urges Israel to respond positively to the important efforts under way to create the conditions for effective Israeli-Palestinian negotiations and reiterates his call on Israel to stop all settlement activity, including natural growth, and dismantle all outposts erected since March 2001 in the occupied Palestinian territory," the statement stressed.
Israel on Monday gave the go-ahead to build hundreds of new homes in settlements in the occupied West Bank, defying warnings that the move jeopardizes any resumption of Middle East peace talks.
Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak authorized the construction of 455 units, most of them in the large settlement blocs that Israel has said it wants to keep in the event of a final peace agreement.
The 2003 Middle East roadmap drawn up by international mediators calls on Israel to halt settlement expansion in the West Bank and for the Palestinians to rein in militants.
The Secretary-General urges Israel to respond positively to the important efforts under way to create the conditions for effective Israeli-Palestinian negotiations and reiterates his call on Israel to stop all settlement activity, including natural growth, and dismantle all outposts erected since March 2001 in the occupied Palestinian territoryUN statement