World Islamic group condemns new East Jerusalem building

Organisation of the Islamic Conference condemns reported Israeli plans to build new settler homes in east Jerusalem.

JEDDAH: The Organisation of the Islamic Conference (OIC) on Saturday condemned reported Israeli plans to build hundreds of new settler homes in east Jerusalem as sabotaging Palestinian-Israeli peace talks.

The resumption of settlement construction was "a provocative move contemptuous of the will of the international community and an act of sabotage against international efforts to revive the peace process," OIC secretary general Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu said in a statement.

The OIC, the world's largest pan-Islamic grouping, believes that such behaviour "requires action by the international community to put a halt to Israel's arrogance," he said.

Ihsanoglu said the United Nations had the responsibility "to stop Israeli aggression."

Israel's Ynet news website reported on Friday that plans for 238 new homes in the settlement neighbourhoods of Pisgat Zeev and Ramot in east Jerusalem were approved the day before by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.