Israel okays 800 new housing units in East Jerusalem, surrounding area

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9. U.N. chief slams Israel over settlement plans in wake of Quartet report

Source: Reuters

World | Tue Jul 5, 2016 2:34pm EDT

U.N. chief slams Israel over settlement plans in wake of Quartet report

U.N. chief Ban Ki-moon sharply criticized a decision by Israel to advance plans to build hundreds of units in the West Bank and East Jerusalem just days after world powers called on Israel to stop its settlement policy, his spokesman said on Tuesday.

"This raises legitimate questions about Israel's long-term intentions, which are compounded by continuing statements of some Israeli ministers calling for the annexation of the West Bank," Ban's spokesman Stephane Dujarric said in a statement.

Ban was "deeply disappointed" that Israel's announcement followed the release of a report on Friday by the "Quartet" sponsoring the stalled Middle East peace process - the United States, Russia, the European Union and the United Nations.

The long-awaited report said Israel should stop building settlements, denying Palestinian development and designating land for exclusive Israeli use that Palestinians seek for a future state.

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Read more: http://www.reuters.com/article/us-israel-palestinians-un-idUSKCN0ZL27B