Finland, which holds the European Union current presidency, condemned on Wednesday Israeli construction of a new settlement in the West Bank, saying it was illegal.

The EU Presidency expressed in a statement its deep concern at the news that the Israeli government has authorized the construction of the Maskiot settlement in the West Bank.

Such unilateral actions are illegal under international law and threaten to render the two-state solution physically impossible to implement, the statement said.

On Tuesday, the Israeli government said it had approved a new settlement in the West Bank to house former Jewish settlers from the Gaza Strip.

The timing of the announcement was particularly unfortunate as the authorization came shortly after the long-sought meeting between Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, the Presidency of the EU said in the statement.

The Presidency urged Israel and Palestinians to refrain from all activities that would endanger the cease-fire and the hopes the meeting between Olmert and Abbas have raised.

The Presidency therefore urged the Palestinian leadership to do everything in its power to stop the launching of Kassam rockets and calls on Israel to show utmost restraint.

Extending the cease-fire to the West Bank must be an urgent goal, the statement added.

Source: Xinhua