Baghdad: UN Secretary-General António Guterres expressed grave concern over the reported decision by the Israeli Security Cabinet to authorize a series of administrative and executive measures in Areas A and B of the occupied West Bank.

According to National Iraqi News Agency, Guterres warned that the current trajectory on the ground, including this decision, undermines the prospects for a two-state solution. He reiterated that all Israeli settlements in the West Bank, including East Quds, and the associated settlement infrastructure and systems, have no legal validity and constitute a flagrant violation of international law, including relevant UN resolutions.

He added that such actions, including Israel’s continued presence in the occupied Palestinian territory, are not only destabilizing but also illegal, as the International Court of Justice has ruled.

The UN Secretary-General called on Israel to reverse these measures and urged all parties to uphold the only path to lasting peace, which is a negotiate
d two-state solution in accordance with Security Council resolutions and international law.