LOC18:42
15:42 GMT
TOKYO, Dec 3 (KUNA) -- Japan and China on Monday expressed regret over
Israel's recent approval for the construction of 3,000 new houses in East
Jerusalem and the West Bank, urging the Israeli government to review the plan
for the sake of the progress of the peace process.
In Tokyo, Foreign Minister Koichiro Gemba said in a statement that the
Japanese government deeply deplores the Israeli announcement on Nov. 30 of the
large-scale construction of the new settlement units.
"The Israeli government continues to proceed with its plan for settlement
construction at a time when the international community is making utmost
efforts to resume direct negotiations between the Israeli and Palestinian
sides. This clearly goes against the ongoing efforts by the international
community to resume negotiations for peace," Gemba said in a statement.
"Settlement activities are a violation of international law, and Japan has
repeatedly called upon Israel to fully freeze settlement activities," the
minister, said, affirming that Japan does not recognize any act that prejudges
the final status of the territories in the pre-1967 borders.
Israel's announcement came less than 24 hours after Palestine won a vote at
the UN General Assembly to upgrade its status at the world body from an
observer entity to a non-member observer state, apparently in retaliation for
Palestine's successful statehood bid at the UN.
In Beijing, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei urged Israel to
create necessary conditions to resume the peace talks with Palestine at an
early date, according to state-run Xinhua News Agency.
"China has always firmly opposed Israel's construction of settlements in
the occupied Palestinian territory of East Jerusalem and the West Bank," Hong
was quoted as saying at a press conference.
"We urge the Israeli side to take substantial steps to eliminate obstacles
to the peace talks with Palestine and create necessary conditions to rebuild
mutual trust and re-launch the peace talks at an early date," Hong said.
The peace process between Israel and Palestine came to a halt in 2010 over
growing criticism of Israel's expansion of its West Bank settlements. (end)
mk.hs
KUNA 031842 Dec 12NNNN