CONCERNED SECRETARY-GENERAL URGES ISRAEL TO FREEZE ALL SETTLEMENT ACTIVITY

The following statement was issued today by the Spokesperson for UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon:

The Secretary-General is deeply concerned about the announcement today of the initial approval by the Ministry of Defence of 20 residential units in the Israeli military post of Maskiyot in the West Bank.  The Secretary-General has stressed many times before that settlement construction or expansion is contrary to international law and Israel’s commitments under the Road Map and the Annapolis process.  The Secretary-General urges Israel to heed the call of the Quartet to freeze all settlement activity, including natural growth, and to dismantle outposts erected since March 2001.

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For information media • not an official record