09/11/2016 (Agence Europe) – On Tuesday evening 8 November, the spokesperson for the European External Action Service (EEAS) criticised the Israeli authorities' approval on 2 November of the construction permits for 181 housing units in the "illegal" settlement of Gilo, "thereby compromising contiguity between East Jerusalem and the West Bank, which is crucial for the viability of the two-state solution". "We regret that Israel has proceeded with these building permits despite continuous serious international concern and objections ever since these plans were first announced", the spokesperson stated, reiterating that under international law the settlements are illegal, "constitute an obstacle to peace and seriously call into question Israel's commitment to a negotiated two-state solution". (CG)