Planning for new settlements run contrary to the call by the Quartet — the diplomatic group comprising the European Union, Russia, the United Nations and the United States - on all parties to refrain from provocative actions, Mr. Ban said in statement issued by his spokesperson late yesterday.

The Secretary-General reiterated that settlement activity in East Jerusalem and the rest of the West Bank is contrary to international law and to Israel's obligations under the Roadmap to a peaceful settlement of the conflict, and must cease.

He also stressed that the international community w
ill not recognize unilateral actions on the ground and that the status of Jerusalem can only be resolved through negotiations.

Israeli-Palestinian peace talks have been stalled since late September last year after Israel's refusal to extend a 10-month freeze on settlement activity. The talks had only resumed a few weeks earlier after a two-year hiatus.