Abbas: Israeli settlement activity undermines 2 state solution

The Palestinian presidency said Tuesday that the Israeli settlement activities in the West Bank and East Jerusalem are undermining the two-state solution and leading to the one-state option. A statement issued by the office of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said that the Israeli announcements of settlement expansion in the Palestinian territories occupied in 1967 are damaging the efforts to achieve just and comprehensive peace in the region. Israel announced Tuesday that Jerusalem's district planning and building committee agreed a plan to construct 940 housing units in Gilo neighborhood of Jerusalem. Israel's Radio reported that the committee is expected to give final approval to the project within next few months. Israel so far has endorsed four settlements plans to construct more than 6,000 housing units in the West Bank and East Jerusalem since the UN General Assembly granted Palestine a non-member observer state status on Nov. 29. According to the statement, the presidency considers all options to respond to the Israeli plans. On Saturday, President Abbas said he may dissolve the Palestinian National Authority (PNA) in protest to the Israeli settlement activity as well as the deadlock in the peace process. Peace talks between the Israelis and the Palestinians halted in October 2010 due to Israel's ongoing settlement activities.