(Ahlul Bayt News Agency) - “I call on Israeli authorities to refrain from any decision to that effect (peace talks) and to clearly show their willingness to restart (peace) negotiations...If confirmed, this decision... would create a serious obstacle to a two-state solution,” said Fabius on Saturday.
This came after the Israel's security cabinet on Friday approved the building of 3,000 new units in West Bank and East al-Quds (Jerusalem) in retaliation for the historic success of Palestinians in gaining recognition as an observer non-member state at the United Nations.
On Thursday, the 193-member assembly voted 138-9 with 41 abstentions at the UN headquarters in New York for a resolution approving the upgrade.
Analysts believe that Palestinians may well have been expecting this Israeli move since Tel Aviv sped up construction of Jewish settlements in occupied territories last November to punish the Palestinians for winning the UN cultural agency, UNESCO, membership.
About 500,000 Jews live in more than 100 settlements built since the occupation of the West Bank and East Jerusalem (al-Quds). The settlements are considered illegal under international law.
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