RAMALLAH, Jan 21 (JMCC) -  As Palestinians press the UN Security Council to condemn the illegal Israeli settlements, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon on Friday said he was very concerned at the lack of progress towards peace.

Citing support from the UN, the US and the EU, Ban Ki-moon stressed that renewed peace talks coupled with freezing settlement construction in the West Bank and east Jerusalem can lead to a historic agreement.

Settlements in the occupied Palestinian territory are illegal under international law, contravene the Road Map obligations of Israel, undermine confidence, prejudge the outcome of the permanent status negotiations and hamper efforts at bringing the parties back to the negotiating table, he said.

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