Israeli Foreign Ministry rejects UNHCR report

Israel responds to United Nations fact finding mission on settlements, saying council has distinguished itself as "biased."

By TOVAH LAZAROFF
Settlement construction 260 R (photo credit: REUTERS/Baz Ratner )
Settlement construction 260 R
(photo credit: REUTERS/Baz Ratner )
Israel’s Foreign Ministry rejected a UN Human Rights Council report examining Israeli settlements in the West Bank, warning that settlements have made it more difficult to restart the frozen negotiations with the Palestinians.
“The only way to resolve all pending issues between Israel and the Palestinians, including the settlements issue, is through direct negotiations without pre-conditions.
“Counterproductive measures, such as the report published today, will only hamper efforts to find a sustainable solution to the Israel-Palestinian conflict,” it said.
The Ministry added that the “The Human Rights Council has sadly distinguished itself by its systematical, one-sided and biased approach towards Israel. This latest report is yet another unfortunate reminder of such approach.”