JAPAN CONDEMNS ISRAEL’S SETTLEMENT EXPANSION DECISION IN EAST JERUSALEM

Tokyo, 22 Rajab 1436/11 May 2015 (MINA) – The Japanese government, in a statement Monday (11/5), expressed its condemnation of Israel’s latest decision to build 900 new settlement units in an East Jerusalem settlement.

The statement stated that Israel’s insistence on its ongoing settlement policy despite repeated international condemnation undermines all efforts exerted by the international community toward achieving the two-state solution, Wafa News Agency quoted by Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA) as reporting.

The government of Japan stressed that settlement activities violate international law, reiterating its call for Israel to completely freeze all settlement activities.

It further called on Israel to refrain from any unilateral actions and reverse its latest settlement expansion decision in East Jerusalem in order to move the peace process forward.

Japan, ‘once again’, called on both Palestinian-Israeli sides to work on promoting mutual trust and exerting all possible efforts toward peace.

The Israeli government Thursday gave the green light for the construction of 900 new housing units in the illegal Israeli settlement of Ramat Shlomo in East Jerusalem.(T/P008/R04)

Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA)