United Nations Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process, Nickolay Mladenov, today expressed concern about Israeli plans to build a new settlement in the occupied territories, warning that it would significantly damage prospects for a future, contiguous Palestinian state.
“I am very concerned by the decision of the Israeli authorities yesterday to open the bidding process for the construction of Givat Hamatos,” said Mladenov in a statement.
“If built, it would further consolidate a ring of settlements between Jerusalem and Bethlehem in the occupied West Bank. It would significantly damage prospects for a future contiguous Palestinian State and for achieving a negotiated two-state solution based on the 1967 lines, with Jerusalem as the capital of both states,” he said.
The UN official reiterated the general world view about Israeli settlement being illegal under international law.
“Settlement construction is illegal under international law and I call on the authorities to reverse this step.”