Israel okays 800 new housing units in East Jerusalem, surrounding area

[Israeli]

11. US, UN slam Israeli decision to advance settlement construction

State Department calls plans to build hundreds of housing units in the West Bank and East Jerusalem 'a systematic process of land seizures, settlement expansions and legalizations of outposts that is fundamentally undermining the prospects for a two-state solution.'

State Department spokesman John Kirby said Tuesday US officials had seen reports that Israel intends to advance plans for hundreds of housing units in Israeli settlements in the West Bank and East Jerusalem.

"If true, this report would be the latest step in what seems to be a systematic process of land seizures, settlement expansions and legalizations of outposts that is fundamentally undermining the prospects for a two-state solution," Kirby told a news briefing.

UN chief Ban Ki-moon also questioned Israel's commitment to reaching peace with the Palestinians.

"This raises legitimate questions about Israel's long-term intentions, which are compounded by continuing statements of some Israeli ministers calling for the annexation of the West Bank," Ban's spokesman Stephane Dujarric said in a statement.

Continued @ http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4824840,00.html