The Secretary-General of the United Nations, Antonio Guterres, expressed his deep concern over Israel’s decision to establish about 800 new settlement units, most of which are located in the occupied West Bank. Mr Guterres reiterated that Israel’s establishment of settlements in the Palestinian territory occupied since 1967, including East Jerusalem, “has no legal validity and constitutes a flagrant violation under international law”. “Settlement expansion increases the risk of confrontation, further undermines the right of the Palestinian people to self-determination, and further erodes the possibility of ending the occupation and establishing a contiguous and viable sovereign Palestinian State, based on the pre-1967 lines”, he said. To check the news, click here