LOC23:01
20:01 GMT
CAIRO, Sept 1 (KUNA) -- Egypt Monday condemned the Israeli decision to seize large swathe of Palestinian land in the West Bank, saying such a move would have "negative consequences" on the peace process.
"This decision is not a positive step and contradicts with the international law and will have negative consequences on the peace process," the foreign ministry said in a statement.
Egypt, which brokered a long-term ceasefire between the Israelis and Palestinian factions in Gaza that ended some 51-day Israeli aggression on the strip, was reacting to the Israeli decision yesterday to expropriate 988 acres, or 400 hectares, of Palestinian land around Bethlehem, and allowed a 45-day period for any appeal against the decision.
The Israeli decision will undermine international efforts to achieve a final settlement based on the two-state solution, said the foreign ministry. (end)
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