Japan slams Israeli approval of 900 East Jerusalem settler homes

[R. Daneel Olivaw]

http://www.maannews.com/Content.aspx?id=765352

BETHLEHEM (Ma'an) -- The Japanese government has slammed a recent decision by Israeli authorities to approve construction of a further 900 settler homes in occupied East Jerusalem.

Foreign Press Secretary Yasuhisa Kawamura said in a statement on Monday that "the government of Japan deeply deplores" the decision, which "clearly undermines the ongoing efforts by the international community toward realizing a two-state solution."

The new settler homes are to be built in the illegal East Jerusalem settlement neighborhood of Ramat Shlomo following a decision last Wednesday by the city's district planning committee.

In his statement Kawamura said: "Settlement activities are a violation of international law, and Japan has repeatedly called upon Israel to fully freeze settlement activities.