A Palestinian call for U.N. Security Council measures against Israel is unlikely to lead to any action, according to Israeli diplomats here.
The Palestine Liberation Organization last week circulated a letter asking the Security Council to “take quick and concrete action to bring an effective end to all settlement activities by Israel” in the administered territories.
The letter, addressed to Secretary-General Boutros Boutros-Ghali, was signed by Nasser al-Kidwa, the PLO’s observer here. Kidwa did not formally request a Security Council meeting.
On Monday, Israeli Foreign Minister Shimon Peres told diplomats here that current activities in the settlements is not a matter to be negotiated between Israel and the PLO.
Peres addressed ambassadors and representatives from 24 countries, as well as eight undersecretary-generals. The group included all 15 members of the Security Council, six Arab ambassadors and Kidwa.
Peres explained that Israel is sticking to its policy of not building new settlements, not confiscating land for settlements and not building apartments existing settlements with government funds.
He added that construction in Jerusalem would continue.
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