UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has urged Israel to halt plans for settlement construction in the E1 area of the occupied West Bank, warning it would violate international law and threaten the viability of a two-state solution, Xinhua reported.
His spokesperson, Stephane Dujarric, said such settlements entrench the occupation, heighten tensions, and undermine prospects for a contiguous Palestinian state.
The E1 zone, east of Jerusalem between the city and Ma’ale Adumim, is seen as highly contentious as development there could cut East Jerusalem off from the northern West Bank, according to Xinhua.
