ANKARA
Turkey condemned on Tuesday Israel’s approval for the construction of new settlements in East Jerusalem.
"We condemn Israel's activities which affect the region's stability, and expect Israel to cease as soon as possible these illegal acts which have no validity under the international law," the Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a written statement.
Israel continues to destroy the fair, permanent and comprehensive solution in the region with its illegal settlement activities in the occupied Palestinian territory, the statement said.
The statement read: Israel's plan to expand four illegal settlements in the West Bank, its approval of the construction of 64 settlement units in East Jerusalem and the announcement of a tender on 580 houses in the seized land in East Jerusalem, all show that Israel disregards international law.
The Local Committee for Planning and Construction in the Jerusalem Municipality on Sunday approved the construction of 64 settlement units in northern East Jerusalem, Israeli media has reported.
Israel occupied East Jerusalem during the 1967 Middle East War. It later annexed the historic city in 1980, claiming it as the capital of the self-proclaimed Jewish state in a move never recognized by the international community.
Palestinians accuse Israel of waging an aggressive campaign to "Judaize" the city with the aim of effacing its Arab and Islamic identity and ultimately driving out its Palestinian inhabitants.
