Releasing terrorists is good, but approving new Jewish construction in Jerusalem is wrong, according to the head of the United Nations.
Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, in a statement he released on Wednesday, condemnedIsrael’s announcement that it will build 1,500 new housing units in the Jerusalem neighborhood of Ramat Shlomo.
“Settlement activity is contrary to international law and constitutes an obstacle to peace. Any measures that prejudge final status issues will not be recognized by the international community,” said the statement.
Ban then expressed “appreciation” for Israel’s decision to release terroristswho murdered Israelis as a “gesture” to the Palestinian Authority.
According to the statement, Ban “understands that Israel took a difficult step in continuing to release Palestinian pre-Oslo prisoners in the face of deep domestic opposition, and appreciates this gesture.”
However, he added, “In keeping with the statement by the Quartet on September 27, the Secretary General expects the parties to take every possible step to promote conditions conducive to the success of the negotiating process and to refrain from actions that undermine trust.”
Israel’s announcement that it will promote new construction in Ramat Shlomo came on Tuesday night, as 26 terrorists were being released, the second in a series of four releases.
Ramat Shlomo is often erroneously described by anti-Israeli media as an "illegal settlement in east Jerusalem". Israel has been slammed in the past for promoting construction in the neighborhood.
The plan to build 1,500 homes has been shelved and then revivedseveral times over the past few years, largely because of criticism over it by the United States.
