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Foreign Secretary comments on Israeli settlement construction

"We call on the Israeli authorities to reconsider this decision, which undermines the prospects for peace."

This was published under the 2010 to 2015 Conservative and Liberal Democrat coalition government

Foreign Secretary, William Hague, said:

“I condemn Israel’s decision to approve more than 900 settlement units in the East Jerusalem suburb of Gilo and the retrospective approval which has been given for construction in five West Bank settlements. This is not disputed territory. It is occupied Palestinian territory and ongoing settlement expansion is illegal under international law, an obstacle to peace and a threat to a two state solution. We call on the Israeli authorities to reconsider this decision, which undermines the prospects for peace. All those who support a secure future for Israel and a future Palestinian state should be working urgently to restart peace negotiations, not taking steps which make this more difficult.”

Published 5 April 2011