High Representative of the European Union, Josep Borrell, called Friday on the Israeli occupation authorities to halt settlement construction and suspend the publication of tenders for illegal settlement construction and expansion.

Borrel’s call came in response Israel’s announcement of construction plans for new housing units in Area E1, located east of Occupied Jerusalem in the West Bank, as well as hundreds of units in Giv’at Hamatos and Har Homa settlements in the south of Jerusalem.  

“Settlement construction in these areas will cut the geographic and territorial contiguity between East-Jerusalem and the West Bank, “ Borrel said in a press release. “Construction in E1 will sever the connection between Northern and Southern West Bank.”