Turkey condemns Israel over new settlements in East Jerusalem

Turkey has condemned Israel for proceeding with the approval process for additional units in "illegal settlements" in East Jerusalem, despite Palestinian and international opposition.

"We condemn Israel's advancement of the approval process for 1,500 additional units in the illegal settlements in the Israeli-occupied East Jerusalem. These illegitimate steps, by violating the basic principles of international law, harm the basis for the two-state solution," read a written statement issued by the Turkish Foreign Ministry late on July 9.