MOSCOW (Pakistan Point News / Sputnik - 23rd August, 2018) UK Minister for middle East Alistair Burt on Thursday condemned Israel's continued construction of settlements across the West Bank, calling on Israeli authorities to stop this activity.
Media reported on Wednesday that Israel's Civil Administration approved the construction of some 1,000 housing units in the West Bank, thus continuing policies that, according to Burt, were "rightly condemned internationally."
"I call on Israel to halt such counterproductive action, and for all parties to commit to further efforts to de-escalate current tensions and create the right environment for a just and lasting peace," Burt said in a statement.
The UK minister stressed that Israeli settlements were illegal under international law and were one of the obstacles to a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
For decades, Israel has been in conflict with the Palestinians, who have been seeking diplomatic recognition for their independent state on the territories of the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, which are partially occupied by Israel, and the Gaza Strip.
In December 2016, the UN Security Council adopted a resolution, expressing concern over Israel's continuing settlement activities, which "imperiled the viability of the two-state solution based on the 1967 lines."
