Israeli settlement activities in East Jerusalem must cease

United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon expressed grave concern for the latest Israeli decision to build 2610 housing units in occupied East Jerusalem, stressing that settlement activities “must cease.” “The Secretary General is deeply concerned at continued efforts to advance planning for new Israeli settlements in occupied East Jerusalem,” said Ban’s spokesman on Friday. The statement added that recent developments in this regard have been unacceptable, particularly as efforts are ongoing to resume negotiations, and run contrary to the Quartet’s call on the parties to refrain from provocations. The Quartet, composed of the UN, United States, European Union and Russia, called in a September 23 statement in New York on Palestinians and Israelis to refrain from taking any “provocative action” that would derail efforts to resume direct negotiations between them. Ban reiterated that settlements activities in East Jerusalem and the remainder of the West Bank are “contrary to international law and to Israel’s obligations under the Road Map, and must cease.” The statement further reiterated that the international community will not recognize unilateral actions on the ground and that the status of Jerusalem can only be resolved through negotiations.