GENEVA, March 25, 2010 (WAFA)- The United Nations Human Rights Council has adopted a resolution condemning Israel's continued construction of settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (OPT) including East Jerusalem, United Nations Radio reported.

The resolution said the expansion of Israeli settlements was not only in violation of international humanitarian law and relevant United Nations resolutions, but also undermines the efforts of the international community to advance the Middle East peace process.

The resolution condemning the construction of Israeli settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territory was adopted by 46 Member States of the UN Human Rights Council. Only the United States of America voted against the resolution, which called on Israel to reverse its settlement policy in the occupied territories. Speaking on behalf of the resolution sponsors, Pakistani representative Zamir Akram said Israeli settlement activity was a major obstacle to the peace process and to the creation of an independent and democratic Palestinian state.

The operative paragraphs welcome the international community's reaffirmation that settlements, the separation barriers were built on occupied lands, demolition of homes and evictions are illegal under international law and constitute an obstacle to the peace and threaten to make a two state solution impossible. Condemns and deplores the new Israeli announcements on the construction of new settlements including in and around occupied East Jerusalem particularly the recent announcement to build 1,600 new units in East Jerusalem and calls upon the government of Israel to immediately reverse its decision.