I am very concerned by the decision of the Israeli authorities yesterday to open the bidding process for the construction of Givat Hamatos.

If built, it would further consolidate a ring of settlements between Jerusalem and Bethlehem in the occupied West Bank. It would significantly damage prospects for a future contiguous Palestinian State and for achieving a negotiated two-State solution based on the 1967 lines, with Jerusalem as the capital of both states.

Settlement construction is illegal under international law and I call on the authorities to reverse this step.