The Israeli government today announced an approval to a large number of new settlement units deep inside the occupied Palestinian territory.
The Israeli regime authorized the building of 500 new illegal units in the West Bank settlement of Shilo.
The top United Nations envoy for the Middle East peace process today stated that Israel’s announcement for new settlements is “deplorable.”
UN Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Robert Serry said that during Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon’s recent visit to Israel and the occupied Palestinian territory, Mr. Ban reiterated the United Nations’ well known position that settlement activity is illegal.
Mr. Sherry stresses that today’s announcement by Israel to approve a large number of new units deep inside the occupied Palestinian territory in the settlement of Shilo is deplorable and moves them further away from the goal of a two-State solution.
Mr. Ban renewed his call for progress in the Middle East peace process. He cited that the toll taken on the economy and lives of Palestinians by the ongoing Israeli occupation.
The UN Chief reiterated that the issue of settlements, which are illegal and hurt prospects for a negotiated solution, clearly has an economic dimension.
“Settlements and their infrastructure severely restrict access to land and natural resources by the Palestinian people.” -Mr. Ban
Nearly 500,000 Israelis live in more than 100 settlement units built since the 1967 Israeli occupation of the West Bank and East al-Quds (Jerusalem).
On August 2011, the Israeli Government of plans for more than 900 housing units in East Jerusalem.
The UN reiterates that the continued settlement in the occupied Palestinian territory is contrary to the Road Map peace plan espoused by the diplomatic Quartet – comprising the UN, European Union, Russia and the United States – which seeks to establish a two-State solution of Israel and Palestine living side by side in peace and security within recognized borders
