April 01, 2026 05:21 pm (IST)
Follow us:
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
Iran conflict: After Saudi, UAE considers ground deployment as push to reopen Hormuz intensifies
Wed, Apr 01 2026
Iran’s Revolutionary Guards threaten major US tech firms with retaliatory strikes starting April 1
Tue, Mar 31 2026
'Come close, we are waiting for you': Iran signals warning as US expands military options in Middle East
Tue, Mar 31 2026
‘Go get your own oil’: Trump signals hardline shift as Hormuz blockade deepens global fuel crisis
Tue, Mar 31 2026
UN diplomat quits, alleges nuclear strike scenario in Iran
Mon, Mar 30 2026
“This is not our war,” German Chancellor Merz says as Trump faults Germany on Hormuz
Sun, Mar 29 2026
13-year-old boy fatally stabbed in Germany; father detained
Sun, Mar 29 2026