Mubarak: Israeli settlements concern Muslims

Sun Oct 18, 2009

Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak says the entire Muslim world is concerned about the expansion of the Israeli settlements in Palestinian territories.

Mubarak, who met with Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi in Rome on Saturday, also condemned Israel's "attempts to assimilate" Jerusalem (Al-Quds).

Israel's continuation of settlement construction "worries not only the Palestinians but the entire Muslim world," AFP quoted Mubarak as saying.

The international community considers Israeli settlements in the West Bank, including east Al-Quds, to be illegal.

Even the US has repeatedly warned that the expansion of the settlements impedes the progress of the Middle East peace talks.

Under the 2002 Roadmap for Peace plan brokered by the US, the EU, the UN and Russia, Israel has to 'dismantle settlement outposts erected since 2001 and also freeze all settlement activities'.

It is estimated that there are almost 200,000 illegal Jewish settlers in the twelve or so Israeli settlements in Al-Quds. There are also about 300,000 more illegal Jewish settlers living in settlements across the occupied Palestinian territory of the West Bank.

Source: PressTV.
Link: http://edition.presstv.ir/detail/108963.html.