LONDON, September 28, 2011 (WAFA) – British Foreign Secretary William Hague condemned the Israeli government’s decision to advance plans for building 780 new settlement housing units, with an option of an additional 600 units in the East Jerusalem settlement of Mordot Gilo, according to a press release published by the British Commonwealth and Foreign Office on Tuesday.

“Settlement expansion is illegal under international law, corrodes trust and undermines the basic principle of land for peace,” Hague said.

“This is a time when all parties should be striving to return to talks and responding to the Quartet statement call to refrain from provocative actions… We call on the government of Israel to revoke this decision,” he added.

R.Q./F.J.