Egypt condemns Israeli occupation's execution of a settlement project in the West Bank

Cairo, Aug 20 (KUNA) -- Egypt today strongly condemned the Israeli occupation’s decision to implement the “E1” settlement project in the occupied West Bank, stating that the project aims to divide the West Bank and encircle and isolate East Jerusalem from its Palestinian surroundings. The Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement that the settlement project undermines the geographical continuity of Palestinian territories and threatens the prospects of establishing an independent, viable State of Palestine, in blatant violation of international law and relevant resolutions of the United Nations Security Council. Egypt reaffirmed its complete rejection of attempts to entrench a policy of fait accompli through illegal settlement expansion and changes to the legal and demographic status of the occupied Palestinian territories, which undermine the prospects of implementing the two-State solution. Egypt called on the international community to assume its responsibilities and take serious steps to halt these violations, reiterating its steadfast commitment to the establishment of an independent Palestinian State on the June 4, 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital. (End) A.F.F. / F.D.S.