EU urges Israel to end all settlement activities

The European Union on Friday repeated its call to Israel to stop all settlement activities and open crossings for the flow of people to and from Palestinian-controlled Gaza.

"We urge Israel to immediately end all settlement activities, including in East Jerusalem," said Sweden, which currently holds the EU's rotating presidency, in a statement.

The EU also called for an immediate and unconditional opening of crossings for the flow of humanitarian aid, commercial goods and persons to and from Gaza, the statement said.

"We strongly support the United States' vigorous pursuit of a two-state solution and call on the parties to fully engage in resumed negotiations to create a viable Palestinian state on the basis of the June 1967 borders," the statement added.