Ban condemns new West Bank settlement construction

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UN chief calls approval of 1,400 new homes ‘obstacle to peace;’ says looking forward to ‘decisive progress’ in Israeli-Palestinian talks.

UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon on Friday condemned Israel’s announcement of new settlement expansion, calling the move illegal and an obstacle to peace.

Speaking during his first press conference of 2014, Ban said that the UN anticipates “decisive progress” in talks between Israel and the Palestinians toward “drawing back from a perilous status quo.”


The secretary general said he was “alarmed” by the Ministry of Housing and Construction’s announcement Friday that it had approved tenders for 1,400 new housing units in the West Bank and East Jerusalem. “Such activity is not only illegal but also an obstacle to peace,” Ban said.

Earlier on Friday ministry spokesman Arik Ben Shimon said 801 units were approved for West Bank settlements, including 227 in Efrat, 169 in Elkana and 40 in Ariel.

In addition, Karnei Shomron would see an additional 86 units, Alfei Menashe 78, Adam 75, Beiter Illit 24, and Emanuel 102.

The Jerusalem neighborhood of Ramat Shlomo, over the Green Line, would see another 600 units built.

Friday’s announcement had been expected after Israel released 26 long-serving Palestinian prisoners in late December, part of a deal made last summer when Israeli-Palestinian peace talks resumed.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has previously issued similar construction announcements to blunt criticism at home of prisoner releases, as many of those released were convicted of killing Israeli civilians and soldiers.

This time, the announcement was apparently postponed until after a visit by US Secretary of State John Kerry, who was in the region last week.

Kerry has been pushing a framework agreement, as part of his efforts to nudge Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas and Netanyahu closer to a full treaty that would establish a Palestinian state alongside Israel.

US State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki said Friday the step was “not conducive to our efforts to move forward on peace,” adding: “We consider now and have always considered the settlements to be illegitimate.”..........Read more: Ban condemns new West Bank settlement construction | The Times of Israel http://www.timesofisrael.com/ban-condemns-new-settlement-construction/#ixzz2q4QR4Xhs
11/1/14
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