"Settlement activities are a violation of international law, and Japan has repeatedly called upon Israel to fully freeze settlement activities," Foreign Ministry Press Secretary Kuni Sato said.Tokyo (ANTARA News/KUNA-0ANA) - Japan on Thursday expressed regret over Israels latest decision to build 1,060 new housing units in East Jerusalem, saying the announcement has a negative impact on the current security situation in Jerusalem especially when the tension is growing.
"It clearly goes against the ongoing efforts by the international community toward the ceasefire agreement regarding the Gaza Strip and realizing a two-state solution," Foreign Ministry Press Secretary Kuni Sato said in a statement.
"Settlement activities are a violation of international law, and Japan has repeatedly called upon Israel to fully freeze settlement activities," said Sato.
On Monday, the Israeli government said that it is advancing plans to build construct 660 houses in Ramat Shlomo and 400 more in Har Homa districts of East Jerusalem.
"Japan strongly calls upon Israel to refrain from any unilateral act that changes the current status of East Jerusalem as well as the West Bank and to desist from implementing the above-mentioned plan of construction for the sake of progress in the peace process," the spokeswoman added.
Japan does not recognize any act that prejudges the final status of the territories in the pre-1967 borders.(*)
Editor: Heru Purwanto
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