Israel's illegal settlement expansion threatens viability of two-state solution: UN official

UNITED NATIONS, March 26 (Xinhua) -- A UN official said Monday that Israel's illegal settlement expansion and related activities continue further threatening the viability of the two-state solution and eroding the prospects for peace in the Middle East.

The Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process, Nickolay Mladenov, said that while Resolution 2334 calls on Israel to "immediately and completely cease all settlement activities in the occupied Palestinian territory, including East Jerusalem" and to fully respect all its legal obligations in this regard, no such steps were taken during the reporting period.

Briefing the Security Council on the situation in the Middle East, and in particular the implementation of Resolution 2334, Mladenov warned that violence and incitement continue to fuel hatred, division, distrust and fear.

"Continuing terror attacks on Israelis and the attempt on the life of the Palestinian Prime Minister illustrate the growing risk of destabilization and the empowerment of radicals and extremists," he said.

The use of force by Israel must be calibrated, he noted.

Mladenov said he remains "greatly concerned by the state of our collective efforts to advance peace."

Long-held international consensus positions on final status issues, including on Jerusalem and refugees, and United Nations principles must remain the guiding framework of a negotiated process towards the ultimate goal of a two-state solution, he said, adding that any deviation from these principles would be dangerous.

Security Council Resolution 2334 was adopted on Dec. 23, 2016. It concerns the Israeli settlements in "Palestinian territories occupied since 1967, including East Jerusalem."

The resolution passed in a 14-0 vote by members of the Security Council. Four members with Security Council veto power, China, France, Russia, and the United Kingdom, voted for the resolution, but the United States abstained.

The resolution states that Israel's settlement activity constitutes a "flagrant violation" of international law and has "no legal validity." It demands that Israel stop such activity and fulfill its obligations as an occupying power. Enditem