Austrian Foreign Minister Michael Spindelegger called on Israel Wednesday to cease building settlements in occupied territory as a way of advancing the peace process in the Middle East. "We want a credible halt to the illegal settlement policy, including east Jerusalem, and a dismantling of the illegal settlements built since 2001," the minister said in a statement issued after talks with his Israeli counterpart Avigdor Liberman in the Austrian capital.
"Equally, Israel must put an end to the humanitarian misery in Gaza and cease its policy of blockade," Spindelegger said. "Lasting inter-Palestinian reconciliation, a credible renunciation of violence and recognition of Israel's right to exist are the pre-conditions for the realisation of a independent Palestinian state," he said. Last month, Palestinian leader Mahmud Abbas reiterated his call for Israel to halt settlement construction. The United States has been pressing hard for Israel to halt all construction work on occupied Palestinian land ahead of the resumption of Middle East peace talks. Israel has so far balked at the demand.
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