UN Secretary General Bank Ki-moon has called on Israel to freeze the construction of settlements in the West Bank, Radio Sawa, a US-funded Arabic-language radio station, reported on Tuesday.

Addressing a UN Security Council session on the Middle East, the UN chief said he is deeply concerned about the ongoing Israeli settlement activities.

He described the settlement construction as provocative acts".

He called for realizing the intra-Palestinian Reconciliation, urging the donors to assume their responsibility in the reconstruction of the Gaza enclave.

On Monday, Israel announced that it approved plans to build 153 new settler homes in the occupied West Bank.

Source: MENA