Turkey strongly condemns Israel for east Jerusalem settlement plan

Turkey strongly condemned Israel over reports that it plans to build 2,600 more housing units in East Jerusalem, Turkish newspaper Todays Zaman reported on Thursday. The move by Israel would threaten to cut a link between Jerusalem and the West Bank and endanger the already slim peace prospects, the Turkish newspaper quoted a statement released by the Turkish Foreign Ministry on Thursday as saying. It said the latest settlement plan give a serious clue over Israel's goals on occupation and annexation of occupied Palestinian territories and thus damage the ground for peace. Israel's new settlement plan come as the Palestinians attempt to secure United Nations recognition of a sovereign Palestinian state in the West Bank and Gaza Strip, with East Jerusalem as its capital, along with a full membership in the UN.