RAMALLAH, February 6, 2017 (WAFA) – The United Nations Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process Nickolay Mladenov Monday expressed concerns over a settlement regularization bill.

Mladenov expressed concern by the scheduled vote on the bill as it would “enable the continued use of privately-owned Palestinian land for Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank” and urged Israeli legislators to reconsider this move.

He said if the bill was adopted into law, it will have far reaching legal consequences for Israel and greatly diminish the prospects for Arab-Israeli peace.

The bill has been deemed unconstitutional by the Attorney General of Israel and is in contravention of international law, he added.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu requested that a final vote on the bill be postponed, after it was initially scheduled for Monday.

Netanyahu explained that he “would like to coordinate the issue with [US President Donald] Trump administration,” which would likely take place during his upcoming visit to Washington DC in 10 days.

The bill, also dubbed the legalization or formalization bill would see thousands of dunums of privately owned Palestinian land seized and dozens of illegal settlement outposts across the West Bank retroactively recognized by the Israeli government.

The bill is expected to pave the way for Israel’s annexation of the majority of the West Bank.

Mladenov asserted that “settlements are illegal under international law and, as outlined in the Middle East Quartet report, and present one of the main impediments to peace.”

“All core issues should be resolved between the parties through direct negotiations on the basis of relevant Security Council resolutions and mutual agreements,” he added.

K.F/M.H