Federal Foreign Office on the approval of 566 housing units in Israeli settlements in East Jerusalem

A Federal Foreign Office Spokesperson issued the following statement today (23 January) on the granting of building permits for 566 housing units in Israeli settlements in East Jerusalem:

Zusatzinformationen

Yesterday, the Jerusalem District Planning and Building Committee granted construction approvals for a total of 566 housing units in East Jerusalem. This decision comes at a time when further construction approvals and the expansion of settlements are under discussion in Israel.

We are following these developments with great concern and have made our position clear on repeated occasions. Settlement construction in occupied territories, and therefore also in East Jerusalem, is a violation of international law and jeopardises lasting peace between Israelis and Palestinians, which can only be achieved through a negotiated two‑state solution.

Both sides continue to be called upon to refrain from unilateral measures that pose a risk of renewed escalation, to reaffirm their commitment to the two‑state solution and to back this up with specific measures as expressed in the recommendations made by the Quartet report of July 2016. 

Background information:

On 22 January, the Jerusalem District Planning and Building Committee granted construction approvals for a total of 566 housing units in the East Jerusalem settlements of Ramat Shlomo, Ramot and Pisgat Ze’ev. This is the final step in the process of approval. Construction approvals for further new housing units in East Jerusalem settlements are on the agenda of tomorrow’s committee meeting.

from
http://www.auswaertiges-amt.de/EN/Infoservice/Presse/Meldungen/2017/170123_AA_Genehmigung_Wohneinheiten_Ost_Jerusalem.html?nn=479796