Spain denounces Israeli settlement construction decision

Spain condemned Monday the Israeli government's decision to construct 2,600 new housing units in Givat Hamatos in occupied east Jerusalem.Spain considered in a statement released by the Foreign Ministry that the decision was an obstacle in the road to a peaceful future agreement since the new settlement project affects the geographical continuity between Bethlehem, Beit Safafa and Jerusalem, saying that the land is part of the occupied Palestinian territories and Israeli settlements is illegal under international law.It also warned that these decisions ran counter to the efforts of both the European Union and the Quartet -- comprising the US, the UN, Russia and the European Union -- to reach a solution to the crisis to demand Israel to reconsider such decisions and put an end to all settlement activity.Furthermore, the statement said it believed that latest announcement as well as prior ones of building new settlements in occupied East Jerusalem would disrupt international efforts to resume direct negotiations between both parties to achieve a just peace, and peace in the Middle East based on the basis of two states living in peace and security.It also confirmed that Spain will continue to work with the parties within the timetable set by the Quartet in order to reach a peaceful agreement that includes the establishment of a Palestinian state according to the pre-1967 borders with Jerusalem as a shared capital of two states.