Japan condemns building new housing units in East Jerusalem

The government of Japan Thursday deeply condemned  Israel’s approval of the construction of 1100 new housing units in ‘Gilo’ settlement East Jerusalem on September 27, said a press release by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan. It reiterated its strong call to Israel to refrain from any unilateral act that changes the current situation in East Jerusalem. “The statement issued by the Middle East Quartet on September 23 calls on both sides to resume negotiations and to refrain from any provocative action. Such an act goes against the ongoing efforts by the international community to resume the negotiations for peace,” It added. The statement said that Japan does not recognize any act that prejudges the final status of the territories in the pre-1967 borders. “It has repeatedly called upon Israel to fully freeze settlement activities. Japan and to not implement the above-mentioned plan of construction for the sake of the progress of the peace process,” the release said. “Now is the time for both the Israeli and Palestinian sides to concentrate on the goal of a “two-state solution,” which is important for not only the Middle East but also the international community as a whole,” it affirmed. It said that Japan once again strongly urges that both sides act for the boosting of mutual trust and continue to make steady efforts for peace.