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New Zealand condemns Israeli home plans in contested territories

Xinhua, July 31, 2015 Adjust font size:

New Zealand, the current president of the United Nations Security Council, voiced deep concern on Friday over the announcement that Israel is to build 800 homes in areas claimed by Palestinians.

New Zealand Foreign Minister Murray McCully condemned the announcement by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of the immediate construction of 300 housing units in the settlement of Beit El and around 500 new housing units in East Jerusalem as " deeply unhelpful."

"Israel's settlements in the West Bank and East Jerusalem damage efforts to negotiate a solution to a conflict which has been at the core of Middle East tensions for decades," McCully said in a statement.

"New Zealand would like to see both sides return to negotiations to agree on a two state solution allowing Israel and a Palestinian state to exist peacefully side by side," he said.

"Announcements like this are deeply unhelpful to efforts to restart peace negotiations and undermine confidence between the parties." Endi