1st LD: UN chef "deeply regrets" Israeli adoption of bill to retroactively legalize settlements in West Bank

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Tuesday said that he "deeply regrets" that Israel adopted a bill late Monday that would retroactively legalize Jewish settlements on privately owned Palestinian land.

He stressed that "the bill is in contravention of international law and will have far reaching legal consequences for Israel."

The secretary-general deeply regrets the adoption of the so called "Regularisation bill" on Feb. 6 by the Knesset -- the Israeli legislature, UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric said at a daily news briefing here.

The spokesman said "it reportedly provides immunity to settlements and outposts in the occupied West Bank that were built on privately-owned Palestinian land."

"The secretary-general insists on the need to avoid any actions that would derail the two-state solution," which is widely backed by the international community to bring lasting peace between the Israelis and Palestanians, the spokesman said while reading a prepared statement.

He added that "all core issues should be resolved between the parties through direct negotiations on the basis of relevant Security Council resolutions and mutual agreements."

The bill would legalize about 4,000 homes in unauthorized outposts across the West Bank -- many consisting of little more than rusting mobile homes hastily towed to the sites -- that were built on land privately owned by Palestinians, and offers the landowners compensation. Endit