December 28, 2025 04:15 am (IST)
Ban concerned over Israeli settlement expansion in West Bank
New York, Jun 6 (IBNS): United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said on Thursday he is deeply concerned by reports that Israeli authorities have issued tenders for the construction of over 1,400 new housing units in settlements in the West Bank, including in occupied East Jerusalem.
“As the United Nations has reiterated on many occasions, the building of settlements on occupied territory is illegal under international law,” said a statement issued by Ban’s spokesperson.
Ban has, on previous occasions, urged on both parties to exercise prudence and to avoid taking unilateral actions on the ground that would further diminish the chances of reaching a negotiated final peace agreement.
“The Secretary-General calls on Israel to heed the calls of the international community to freeze settlement activity and abide by its commitments under international law and the Road Map,” the spokesperson added, referring to the plan which calls for Israel and Palestine to live side by side in peace and within secure borders.
Israelis and Palestinians have been engaged since last August in United States-brokered talks to reach a comprehensive peace agreement, resuming negotiations that had ended in September 2010 when Israel refused to extend its freeze on settlement activity in the occupied Palestinian territory.
[A settler woman walks past an Israeli soldier standing guard in East Jerusalem. Photo: IRIN/Andreas Hackl (file photo)]
Support Our Journalism
We cannot do without you.. your contribution supports unbiased journalism
IBNS is not driven by any ism- not wokeism, not racism, not skewed secularism, not hyper right-wing or left liberal ideals, nor by any hardline religious beliefs or hyper nationalism. We want to serve you good old objective news, as they are. We do not judge or preach. We let people decide for themselves. We only try to present factual and well-sourced news.
Support objective journalism for a small contribution.
Latest Headlines
German Red Cross faces sharp donation decline in 2025 amid inflation, donor fatigue
Sat, Dec 27 2025
Libyan general's fatal Turkey plane crash: Black box heads to Germany for neutral analysis
Sat, Dec 27 2025
No German boots in Gaza—for now: Berlin rules out joining peace force as war drags on
Sat, Dec 27 2025
Christmas horror in Paris: Knife attack leaves three women injured, suspect arrested
Sat, Dec 27 2025
Zelenskyy to meet Trump in Florida as US-led peace talks with Russia enter critical phase
Fri, Dec 26 2025
Israeli reservist soldier dismissed after ramming ATV into praying Palestinian in West Bank
Fri, Dec 26 2025
Zelensky’s Christmas message blends a call for peace in Ukraine with dark wish for Putin
Thu, Dec 25 2025
