UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon has called on Israel, urging Jerusalem to reverse its land grab of 234 hectares (579 acres) in the Yericho/Dead Sea area. The reported state land expropriation was contained in a new Peace Now report that was the subject of a Galei Tzahal (Army Radio) report on Tuesday, 5 Adar-II.

The UN leader feels Israel did not have the right to declare the unclaimed land ‘state land’, a move that he views as problematic and contraindicated as the PA (Palestinian Authority) is protesting, insistent those areas should be part of Palestine when the independent state is declared.

UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric stated “Such actions appear to point toward an increase in settlement activities and demonstrate that Israel is continuing to push forward in the consolidation of its control of the West Bank”. He added that the settlements are illegal under international law, and the government must halt such actions, which are illegal.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)