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Foreign Secretary condemns expansion of illegal Israeli settlements

Foreign Secretary William Hague has spoken following the Government of Israel's decision to advance plans for a further 4,000 East Jerusalem settlement housing units.

This was published under the 2010 to 2015 Conservative and Liberal Democrat coalition government

The Foreign Secretary said:

“I condemn yesterday’s news that the Government of Israel is advancing plans for over 4,000 more East Jerusalem settlement housing units. This comes a week after the approval of over 900 housing units in Har Homa. I am concerned that Israel has ignored the international community’s calls for an end to this settlement action. At a time when all parties should be striving to return to talks, this announcement undermines trust and - by illegally changing the situation on the ground - threatens the two state solution for which we are working hard. It is deeply disappointing.”

Published 12 August 2011