United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres called on Israel to reverse its decision to build about 800 settlement housing units in the occupied West Bank, warning that such decisions undermine the two-state solution.
In a statement, Guterres said that this decision "constitutes a major obstacle to achieving the two-state solution and establishing a just, lasting and comprehensive peace."
In his statement, the Secretary-General reiterated "the assertion that Israel´s construction of settlements in the Palestinian territories occupied since 1967, including East Jerusalem, does not enjoy any legal validity and constitutes a flagrant violation of international law."
Guterres warned that Israeli settlement expansion in the occupied Palestinian territories "is further eroding the possibility of ending the occupation and establishing a connected, sovereign and viable Palestinian state, based on pre-1967 lines."
And on Sunday, the Israeli occupation state gave the green light to build 780 new settlement units in the occupied West Bank, in implementation of orders issued by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
More than 450,000 Israeli settlers live in the West Bank, which is home to 2.8 million Palestinians.
All built-up settlements in the West Bank and East Jerusalem are illegal under international law.
