Amman, Aug 22 (Petra) – The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) condemned on Saturday Israel's new settlement plans in the occupied West Bank, including the E1 project near Jerusalem.

Proceeding with such plans is a blatant challenge to international law and a systematic undermining of the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people, said GCC Secretary-General Jasem Mohamed Al Budaiwi.

He said such practices by the Israeli occupation forces will undermine the chances of peace and threaten international and regional efforts aimed at setting up an independent Palestinian state.

Al Budaiwi urged the international community to take "a serious and responsible" stance to halt the settlement schemes and counter any measures aimed at changing the geographic and demographic reality of the occupied Palestinian territories.

He reiterated the GCC's firm support of the Palestinian people's right to establish their independent state on the June 4, 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital, in accordance with the Arab Peace Initiative and relevant international resolutions.

//Petra//SS