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UN chief renews call for Israel to stop settlement activities

Arab World Materials 14 January 2013 23:43 (UTC +04:00)
UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon on Monday asked the Israeli government to rescind plans for new settlements in the West Bank's E1 area, where Palestinians demonstrating against the construction were evacuated, dpa reported.
UN chief renews call for Israel to stop settlement activities

UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon on Monday asked the Israeli government to rescind plans for new settlements in the West Bank's E1 area, where Palestinians demonstrating against the construction were evacuated, dpa reported.

"Israeli settlements in the West Bank are illegal under international law," Ban said. "The secretary general repeats his call that any such settlement plans for E1 must be rescinded."

Ban said Palestinians have the right to protest the settlements if their actions are peaceful, and he called for Israel to respect that right.

"In this particularly difficult period for the region, all concerned should make serious efforts towards creating the conditions for a resumption of meaningful peace negotiations and to protect the future of the peace process, which is in danger," Ban said.

Israeli police evicted the protest camp on Sunday. E1 lies between East Jerusalem and the Jewish settlement of Ma'aleh Adumim, where Israel has announced controversial building plans despite massive international opposition.

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