US SAYS ISRAELI SETTLEMENTS ILLEGITIMATE

US State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki: "Israeli settlements illegitimate." (MINA File Photo) — **US State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki: “Israeli settlements illegitimate!”** (MINA File Photo)

Washington, 13 Rabi’ul Akhir 1436/3 February 2015 (MINA) – State Department says settlements will have detrimental effects, inflame already heightened tensions with Palestinians and further isolate Israel internationally.

Israel’s approval for the construction of new settlements in the West Bank and East Jerusalem is illegitimate, the US said Friday, Middle East Monitor (MEMO) quoted by Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA) as reporting.

Authorities in Israel on Friday approved the construction of 430 new settlements in the occupied West Bank and East Jerusalem and the decision sparked clashes between Israeli police and Palestinians.

“We believe that settlements are illegitimate and are counter-productive to achieving a two-state outcome,” said Jen Psaki, a State Department spokeswoman. “We have deep concerns about these highly contentious construction announcements.”

She said that the settlements will have detrimental effects on the ground, inflaming already heightened tensions with Palestinians and further isolate Israel internationally.

International law considers the West Bank and East Jerusalem occupied territories captured by Israel in 1967, deeming all construction of Jewish settlements on the land illegal.(T/R05/P3)

Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA)