Un Chief Condemns Israel For Settlement Expansion

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Wednesday condemned Israel's recent moves to expand Jewish settlements in the occupied West Bank.



Tel Aviv granted approval Wednesday for constructing 300 new housing units in the settlement of Beit El, as well as a planning approval to build nearly 500 housing units in a number of settlements in East Jerusalem.



In a statement issued from his office, Ban urged the Israeli government to reverse the decisions.



"[Ban] reiterates that settlements are illegal under international law, an impediment to peace, and cannot be reconciled with the government of Israel's stated intention to pursue a two-state solution", read the statement.



International law views East Jerusalem and the West Bank as occupied territories and deems any construction of Israeli settlements on the land to be illegal.



The statement said Ban was also concerned about the "imminent threat" of demolitions in the indigenous Palestinian village of Susya in the West Bank.



"The destruction of private property in occupied territory is prohibited under international humanitarian law, and for which actions there must be accountability", it said.



Israel claims the village was built illegally on land under Israeli control, but the villagers and human rights groups say Israeli authorities have systematically refused to grant residents planning permission. 



The village is populated by 350 Palestinians who mostly depend on farming and livestock for their livelihoods. - New York