Israel: U.N. Chief Criticizes Seizing of West Bank Land
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Version 0 of 1. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon of the United Nations added his voice on Monday to the criticism of Israel over its seizing of nearly 1,000 acres of West Bank land in a Jewish settlement bloc near Bethlehem. Israel’s action on Sunday, Mr. Ban said in a statement, “risks paving the way for further settlement activity, which — as the United Nations has reiterated on many occasions — is illegal under international law and runs totally counter to the pursuit of a two-state solution.” Palestinians, who aspire to create a state on territories captured by Israel in the 1967 war, denounced the new land seizure by Israel and said it would further aggravate relations, less than a week after a cease-fire agreement brokered by Egypt was reached to halt 50 days of fighting between Israeli forces and Palestinian militants in Gaza. American and British officials also criticized the land seizing, calling it counterproductive, while Egypt’s Foreign Ministry said it would have “negative consequences on the peace process.” |