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OIC urges UNSC to help stop Israeli settlement expansions

JEDDAH, Feb 6 (KUNA) -- Secretary-General of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Iyad Ameen Madani on Thursday strongly condemned the recent Israeli decision to build 558 homes for Jewish settlers in the occupied city of Jerusalem.
"The Israeli settlement expansions are a fragrant violation of the rights of the Palestinian people and run counter to the relevant UN resolutions," Madani said in a statement by the organization here.
"The Israeli decision jeopardizes the chances of peace-making between Israel and Palestine and the (US-conceived) vision for two-state solution.
"Israel persists in its racist policy and illegitimate practices which require a firm response from the international community, particularly the UN Security Council," according to the statement.
"The UNSC must shoulder its responsibilities and act to stop the Jewish settlement expansions as well as the other repeated aggressions of Israeli authorities which are tantamount to war crimes," it added.
The Israeli municipal authority in Jerusalem approved yesterday a decision to build the 558 new residential units in the old city. (end) nh.gb KUNA 062239 Feb 14NNNN