The Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC) Group has expressed its grave concern about the critical situation in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, as a result of ongoing illegal Israeli policies and practices. The OIC Group strongly condemned in this regard the continuation of settlement activities by Israel, the occupying Power, in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, in breach of its legal obligations under the Fourth Geneva Convention, relevant United Nations resolutions, and the July 2004 Advisory Opinion of the International Court of Justice. The OIC Group stressed that Israeli settlement activities were seriously undermining the international and regional efforts aimed at the resumption of negotiations between the two sides and the acceleration of the peace process. The Group deplored that Israel, the occupying Power, continued to carry out such illegal measures in flagrant disrespect of the international community's unanimous called for a freeze all settlement activities, including so-called “natural growth”, in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem. The OIC Group condemned Israel's intensification of settlement activities, particularly in and around Occupied East Jerusalem, in defiance of repeated global demands to cease these illegal actions. --More
