Int'l pressures on Israel to halt construction of settlements

International pressures increased on Israel in an attempt to halt construction of the Jewish settlements in the occupied territories and resume peace talks with Palestinians.

This coincides with the arrival of the US peace envoy William Burns in Cairo today for talks with Egyptian officials on the Egyptian-Jordanian initiative and efforts exerted to revive peace process.

On the other hand, the United States slammed Israel's plan to construct more than 700 units.

The Spokesman for the State Department Philip Reeker Wednesday reiterated his country's condemnation of the continuous violence and Jewish settlement activities in the Palestinian territories.

"We have consistently said that continued settlement activity is a provocative activity and inflames an already volatile situation," said Reeker.

Asked about Palestinian President Yasser Arafat's call for dispatching an international observer force, Reeker said that it is "something that has to be agreeable to both sides."

The State Department official noted that Mideast peace envoy William Burns will arrive in Cairo on Thursday to post Egyptian officials on the recent developments in the situation in the light of his latest talks with the Palestinians and Israelis on the Mitchell Commission's Report and means to "break the cycle of violence".

"State Secretary Colin Powell asked the US Ambassador to Israel Martin Indyk and the consul to continue contacts with the Palestinians and Israelis," he added.

Burns will be back to Washington on Saturday to brief President George W. Bush on outcome of his talks.