‘Israel’ Urged to Stop New Settlement Construction in West Bank

By Staff, Agencies

The Zionist entity on Sunday approved the construction of 780 settler units in the West Bank, ordered last Monday by Zionist Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

"The establishment by ‘Israel’ of settlements in the Palestinian territory occupied since 1967, including East al-Quds, has no legal validity and constitutes a flagrant violation under international law,” Guterres said in a statement.

"Settlement expansion... further erodes the possibility of ending the occupation and establishing a contiguous and viable sovereign Palestinian State, based on the pre-1967 lines," he added.

The move has also been condemned by the European Union, the United Kingdom, ‘Israeli’ opposition members and settlement watchdog Peace Now, among others.

The UK said Monday that it was "seriously concerned" by the government's decision, asking it to end the project "immediately."

"The UK is seriously concerned by the Government of Israel's decision to approve the construction of 780 new settlement units across the Occupied Palestinian Territories," a Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office spokesperson said.

"Settlements are illegal under international law," the spokesperson said. "We call for the construction of these in East al-Quds and elsewhere in the West Bank to cease immediately."