Germany Raps Israeli Settlement Construction Plans

Berlin, Nov 2, IRNA -- The German government here Friday criticized Israels latest settlement construction plans. Talking at a routine press briefing, government spokesman Steffen Seibert expressed great concern over Israels announcement to build more than 3,000 new homes in occupied West Bank and East Jerusalem. He reiterated Israeli settlement construction in the occupied territories was violating international law. Seibert stressed Israeli building plans were a negative message for the US-brokered peace talks between Israelis and Palestinians. He warned one-sided moves could jeopardize peace negotiations. Home starts in Jewish settlements surged by a drastic 70 percent in the first half of 2013, jeopardizing peace talks, according to Israeli human rights groups. Anti-settlement group Peace Now was quoted saying that between January and June construction started on 1,708 new homes in the occupied West Bank, including annexed East Jerusalem, compared with 995 in the first half of 2012. /end