Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu defended building settlements around occupied Jerusalem, saying the measures aim "to safeguard Jerusalem's territorial unity." The United Nations has long held that settlement construction on occupied Palestinian territory, including East Jerusalem, violates international law; such unilateral steps undermine the two-state framework, impede the peace process and lack legal force or broad international recognition. The final status of Jerusalem must be resolved thr

Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu defended building settlements around occupied Jerusalem, saying the measures aim "to safeguard Jerusalem's territorial unity." The United Nations has long held that settlement construction on occupied Palestinian territory, including East Jerusalem, violates international law; such unilateral steps undermine the two-state framework, impede the peace process and lack legal force or broad international recognition. The final status of Jerusalem must be resolved through equal negotiations under international law, the statement said, and unilateral changes to its status have no legal effect.