United Nations demand Israel halt settlements

U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon attends the United Nations Day Concert at United Nations on October 24, 2012 in New York City. / Michael Loccisano/Getty Images

UNITED NATIONS Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and all members of the U.N. Security Council except the United States are criticizing Israel and demanding an immediate halt to new settlement construction.

• Israel OKs east Jerusalem settlement expansion

Representatives of the 14 council members stepped to the microphone outside the chamber after their monthly Mideast briefing Wednesday to denounce the Israeli settlement plans, which they warned is threatening a two-state peace settlement with the Palestinians. The council president said they did so because efforts to get all 15 members to agree on a resolution or statement had failed, almost certainly because of U.S. opposition.

Separately, Ban told reporters that Israel's heightened settlement activity "gravely threatens efforts to establish a viable Palestinian state." He urged Israel "to refrain from continuing on this dangerous path."

The Jerusalem planning committee recently approved 2,612 housing units in the Givat Hamatos settlement on Jerusalem's southern rim, City Councilor Pepe Alalu told The Associated Press. The area, inhabited by a few dozen Jewish and Palestinian families who live in rundown trailers, would be the first new settlement to be built in east Jerusalem since 1997. Alalu, who voted against the project, said construction could begin in a year.

• Israel advances east Jerusalem settlement plans
• Israel PM Benjamin Netanyahu accuses international community of "deafening silence" on Hamas threats

The project is part of a series of building plans that have drawn worldwide rebuke, including from the United States. Critics consider Givat Hamatos a particularly problematic area to develop because, along with another contentious plan in an area known as E-1, it would hinder access to east Jerusalem from the West Bank. The Palestinians claim east Jerusalem as the capital of their future state.

The building push comes shortly after the United Nations General Assembly voted to upgrade the Palestinians' status to a non-member observer.

[FormerUSMCSergeant]

Once again, the U.S. proves that it's Israel's 800-pound trained gorrila on the UNSC.
It's only been proven about 400 times now.....

[FormerUSMCSergeant]

The project is part of a series of building plans that have drawn worldwide rebuke, including from the United States.
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Except when it counts......

[FormerUSMCSergeant]

"gravely threatens efforts to establish a viable Palestinian state."
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BINGO!

[FormerUSMCSergeant]

GlaucoOrtolano says: They just can't retreat now and history explains why. In my view, their only option is to press forward.
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Why do you view peace as a "retreat" and not even an option?

[FormerUSMCSergeant]

Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and all members of the U.N. Security Council except the United States are criticizing Israel and demanding an immediate halt to new settlement construction.
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How pitiful we've become thanks to AIPAC.

[Ulgnud]

UN has no authority. Why waste time with them?

[MidWestSense]

Who is terrorizing who again?

[xraeddie]

I am so sick and tired of our non stop support of Israel even when they are most definiely in the wrong.Unfortunately that seems to be becoming a regular thing these days.This Netanyahu is nothing but a war monger and right up there with Bush.His American accent coupled with his complete arrogance is a big reason why the world sees us as the same.It's about time that we wake up and realize that sooner or later Israel,unless it changes it's aggressive attitude,will lead us into a very bad situation from which the outcome might be very muddy.Despie our large Jewish population,I don't think their friendship or security is worth sacrificing ours for.

[leotrosky]

don't worry our politics are the puppet of american jews and the israeli jews, they are the force behind the throne .

[GlaucoOrtolano]

Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon urged Israel "to refrain from continuing on this dangerous path." What Mr. Moon doesn't seem to understand is that Israel has been on that "dangerous path" since the UN approved the creation of the State of Israel. They just can't retreat now and history explains why. In my view, their only option is to press forward.

[computerflyer]

So if you go in to rob a bank you have to regardless of the number of security people with their bushmasters trained on you? Great strategy for disaster methinks.

[destruk3]

Sounds like we can duplicate the Iran Sanctions against Israel, and form a blocade around their country allowing exactly the amount of rice their people need to survive, 12 truck loads per month.