LOC22:39
19:39 GMT
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)
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