Ki-moon Regrets Tel-Aviv’s Rejection to Halt Settlement Construction

United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon has declared in a statement that "Israel" is obliged to freeze its settlement expansion in the occupied Palestinian territories.

The UN chief regrets that Tel Aviv has refused to extend its ten-month moratorium on illegal settlement construction in the West Bank that expired on September 26, a statement issued by Ban's spokesman said Wednesday.

The spokesman urged Tel Aviv to renew its freeze on settlement construction in the West Bank and East Al Quds (Jerusalem), framing it as an obligation that "Israel" is avoiding.

"Israel" must "fulfill its Roadmap obligation" to freeze all settlement activity in the occupied Palestinian territories, including East Al Quds, the statement said.

The European Union has also expressed regret about "Israel's" refusal to a partial freeze in settlement building on Palestinian land, calling the "Israeli" settlement expansion illegal and an obstacle to peace.