By KUNA,
United Nations : Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon late Tuesday condemned the Israeli approval earlier in the day to build 1,600 new “housing units” in East Jerusalem, his press office said in a statement.
The UN chief “reiterates that settlements are illegal under international law. Furthermore, he underscores that settlement activity is contrary to Israel’s obligations under the Roadmap, and undermines any movement towards a viable peace process,” the statement added.
The US, Israel’s closest ally, also condemned the Israeli plan on Tuesday, which was announced as Vice President Joe Biden was landing in Jerusalem in an attempt to push for proximity talks between Israelis and Palestinians.
The talks were stalled over a year ago following the Israeli incursion into the Gaza Strip in December 2008.
Ban will discuss the settlements issue when he meets his Quartet partners on March 19 in Moscow, Russia, and with Israeli officials when he visits Israel later this month.
Ban is also scheduled to visit the West Bank and Gaza, and to attend the Arab League Summit in Sirte, Libya, on March 27.