Spain condemns Israeli decision to expand settlements

The Spanish government condemned in a statement published Tuesday an Israeli government decision to build hundreds of housing units in illegal West Bank settlements. The statement by the Spanish foreign ministry said that all of the West Bank settlements are illegal under international law, contradict Israeli commitments and obligations toward the international community and contribute to complicating chance of reaching a peace agreement. It considered settlement activity as a new obstacle to the re-lunching of negotiations between the Palestinians and Israel that will allow the reaching of a just, comprehensive and lasting peace in the Middle East with two states coexisting side by side in peace and security.