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UN chief deplores advancement of Israeli settlements in West Bank

Xinhua, May 16, 2015 Adjust font size:

UN Secretary General Ban Ki- moon on Friday "strongly deplored" the advancement of settlement activities on three occasions over the past three consecutive weeks by the Israeli authorities in the occupied West Bank, said a UN spokesperson in a statement.

"He (secretary general) reiterates that settlements are illegal under international law and urges the government of Israel to halt and reverse such decisions in the interest of peace and a just final status agreement," said the spokesperson.

The secretary general reiterated that the international community will not recognize unilateral actions on the ground and that the status of Jerusalem can only be resolved through negotiations, said the spokesperson.

It is expected there will be an escalation in settlement construction, less Palestinian confidence and grim peace prospects following Thursday's swearing-in of an all-right-wing government under Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Endite