Secretary-General of the United Nations Antonio Guterres speaks at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, on Jan 18, 2023. Guterres was deeply concerned by Israeli security cabinet's recent announcement that it has decided to authorize nine settlement outposts in the occupied West Bank, his spokesman said on Feb 13, 2023. (PHOTO / AP)
UNITED NATIONS – UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres was deeply concerned by Israeli security cabinet's announcement that it has decided to authorize nine settlement outposts in the occupied West Bank, his spokesman said on Monday.
"If these measures are implemented, they would further undermine prospects for a viable two-state solution," Stephane Dujarric, the spokesman, told a regular press briefing.
ALSO READ: Deadly raid: Palestine ends security coordination with Israel
Guterres reiterated that "all settlements are illegal under international law and a substantial obstacle to peace," said the spokesman, adding that the UN chief "calls for unilateral actions that erode the prospects for a political solution on the basis of United Nations resolutions, international law and bilateral agreements to stop."
After a six-hour meeting on Sunday evening, the Israeli cabinet overwhelmingly agreed to recognize nine settlement outposts that had been set up recently in the West Bank, reported Israeli media.