LONDON, November 29, 2016 (WAFA) – British Minister for the Middle East Tobias Ellwood Tuesday expressed his government’s concern by Israeli plans to build 500 new units in Ramat Shlomo settlement in East Jerusalem, according to a statement by the Foreign Office.

“We are deeply concerned by reports that the Jerusalem Municipality has revived a plan for constructing 500 new units in the illegal settlement of Ramat Shlomo in East Jerusalem,” said Ellwood. “The planned expansion of Ramat Shlomo includes construction on privately owned Palestinian land and further cuts off East Jerusalem from the rest of the West Bank.”

The British official said, “It is disappointing that Israel has proceeded with this plan despite serious international criticism when these plans were announced in 2014. Israel’s policy of continuing to expand settlements is illegal under international law and systematically undermines the prospects for a two-state solution.”

M.K.