Annan: Israel's separation wall a clear breach Fourth Geneva Convention

United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan expressed deep disquiet today by the Government of Israel's decisions to continue construction of a separation wall on the West Bank and build 600 new houses in the area, UN spokesman Fred Eckhard said.

Referring to a statement issued on 26 September by the diplomatic Quartet - the United Nations, United States, European Union and Russian Federation - calling on both Israelis and Palestinians to address each other's core concerns. Eckhard said the Secretary-General "views both the security wall and settlements in the West Bank built on Palestinian land as serious obstacles to the achievement of a two-State solution."

Annan has repeatedly said "settlements are a clear breach of the Fourth Geneva Convention and also contradict Israel's commitments under the Quartet's Roadmap" peace plan, the spokesman said.

The 1949 Fourth Geneva Convention on the wartime treatment of civilians forbids an occupying power to resettle its own civilians on territory under its military control.