The UN Secretary General condemns Tel Aviv’s settlement activity on the Palestinian land, saying the illegal move violates international law.

"I urge the government of Israel to commit fully to its obligations, including to freeze settlement activity and natural growth," Ban Ki-moon said Wednesday in a message to a UN meeting on Middle East in Geneva.

"If Israel continues settlement activity, it will not only be acting contrary to international law but also to a strong international consensus", he continued.

Ban’s warnings come shortly after Israeli authorities allowed the construction of 20 new apartments on a former hotel site in East Jerusalem (al-Quds).

The expansion of Jewish settlements in the occupied West Bank is considered as the main obstacle to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

The Palestinians have repeatedly said that they would resume the long-stalled peace talks only after Tel Aviv stops settlement activity in the West Bank — which was captured by Israel during 1967 war.

While the US, along with the international community, wants Israel to stop all settlement activity in the Palestinian territories, the government of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has so far refused to heed the call.

Israel says it wants to continue its settlement activities on Palestinian to keep up with the "natural growth” of the Israeli population.

(Press TV)