“The federal government has many times clearly expressed its position: construction of new settlements in the occupied territories including East Jerusalem violates the international law,” the Foreign Ministry said in a statement.
According to the statement, these settlements create additional obstacles for peace settlement.
"We are observing the developments, which may lead to escalation of tensions between two groups of population and in the long term disrupt the peace process on the basis of a two-state solution, with a great concern,” the statement said.
Palestinians seek diplomatic recognition for their independent state on the territories of the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, which is partially occupied by Israel, and the Gaza Strip. The Israeli government refuses to recognize Palestine as an independent political and diplomatic entity, and builds settlements on the occupied areas, despite objections from the United Nations.
