BAN KI-MOON SLAMS ISRAEL OVER EAST JERUSALEM SETTLEMENT PLANS

PanARMENIAN.Net
October 18, 2011 – 19:46 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon criticized Israel
over reports that it plans to build 2,600 more housing units in East
Jerusalem, saying further settlement activity was “unacceptable.”

“The Secretary-General is deeply concerned over continued efforts
to advance planning for new Israeli settlements in occupied East
Jerusalem,” Ban’s press office said in a statement.

“Recent developments in this regard have been unacceptable,
particularly as efforts are ongoing to resume (Israeli-Palestinian)
negotiations, and run contrary to the Quartet’s call on the parties
to refrain from provocations,” it said.

The Peace Now anti-settlement group said that Israel planned to
build the housing units in a new urban settlement in East Jerusalem,
angering Palestinians who want a halt to all such projects before
they return to peace talks, Haaretz reported.