Ban renews call for Israel to halt West Bank settlement
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In this Nov 2, 2011 file photo, a construction worker works on a new housing unit in the east Jerusalem neighborhood of Har Homa. -- PHOTO : AP
UNITED NATIONS (AFP) - UN leader Ban Ki Moon on Monday renewed a call for Israel to scrap its plans to build settlements in a controversial West Bank area where police have evicted dozens of Palestinian activists.
Mr Ban is "following with concern" developments around the "E1" area on the outskirts of Jerusalem, said a statement released by his press office.
"He notes that Israeli settlements in the West Bank are illegal under international law. The secretary general repeats his call that any such settlement plans for E1 must be rescinded," the statement added.
Hundreds of Israeli police entered a protest camp in E1 early on Sunday and took away about 200 activists who had set up the camp two days earlier.
