BERLIN, June 9, 2012 (WAFA) – Germany expressed concern about Israeli plans to build 851 housing units in West Bank settlements saying this step is counter to efforts to re-launch stalled peace talks, German Foreign Ministry spokesman Andreas Peschke said Thursday.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced that he has approved the construction of these housing units in a step to appease fanatic Jewish settlers who are supposed to be evicted from five houses built on private Palestinian land in the Ramallah-area illegal settlement of Beit El, which was also built on private Palestinian land.

“The German government is very concerned about the Israeli announcement to build 851 new housing units in Israeli settlements in the West Bank,” he said.

“It shares the opinion that such steps run counter all efforts to re-launch peace talks between Israelis and Palestinians,” he added.

Peschke said the eviction or relocation of outposts “does not legitimize an increase in settlement construction elsewhere.”

German Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle called on the Israeli government and the Palestinian Authority “to use their room of maneuver for courageous decisions in the peace process, so as to allow new talks,” he added.

“The feasibility of a two-state solution must not be called into question by unilateral steps. We are calling on both sides to resume the dialogue and to refrain from unilateral and provocative steps,” concluded Peschke.

M.S.