RAMALLAH, May 5, 2012 (WAFA) – Turkey strongly condemn Israel’s approval of the construction of a hotel with a 1100-bed capacity in the settlement of Givat Hamatos in East Jerusalem, said a statement by the Turkish Foreign Ministry on Thursday.

It said the approval adds to Israel’s illegal settlement activities in the occupied Palestinian Territory.

“Indeed, Israel’s plans to construct new settlements in Givat Hamatos area in order to sever the geographical contiguity between Jerusalem and Bethlehem were condemned by Turkey, together with the international community in last October and it was emphasized that this situation had revealed that Israel’s real objective had never been peace,” said the statement.

Turkey underlined its refusal of the settlement activities persistently carried out by Israel, and reiterated that Israel has been destroying the basis for peace through its practices which constitute blatant violations of the international law.

R.Q./M.S.