JERUSALEM (AP) — The U.N.’s Mideast envoy has criticized Israel’s renewed building in West Bank settlements in response to an Associated Press investigation.
The AP report showed that Israel has begun building at least 544 apartments since a 10-month halt on new housing starts in the settlements expired late last month.
Palestinians charge that construction in the settlements is aimed at preventing establishment of a Palestinian state.
In a statement Thursday, U.N. envoy Robert Serry called the AP report “alarming.” He said settlement construction is “illegal under international law” and “will only further undermine trust.”
Israel has so far refused to renew the construction curbs, saying the settlement issue should be addressed in negotiations.
