Members of the UN Security Council strongly opposed the US announcement that it no longer considers Israeli settlements to be a violation of international law.

"Our position on Israeli settlement policy in the occupied Palestinian territory, including East Jerusalem, is clear and remains unchanged: all settlement activity is illegal under international law and it erodes the viability of the two-state solution and the prospects for a lasting peace," British UN ambassador Karen Pierce said in a joint statement of the five countries Belgium, Britain, France, Germany and Poland. Meanwhile, the Cultural Committee of the 40th Session of the General Conference of Unesco, with the participation of world's culture ministers, recommended to take new decisions on Jerusalem.

During the session, which was attended by 120 ministers of culture, the Cultural Committee expressed its concern about the obstacles and practices that harm the efforts to preserve the distinctive character of the city of Jerusalem and its walls.

The Committee also expressed concern about Israeli excavations and works in Old Jerusalem.


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