U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon expressed concern about Israel’s approval of two new rounds of settlement homes amid ongoing peace talks with the Palestinians. Ban made the comments during a visit to the West Bank city of Ramallah.

Ban Ki-moon: “I remain deeply troubled by Israel’s continuing settlement activity in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem. Settlement activity is deepening the Palestinian people’s mistrust in the seriousness on the Israeli side toward achieving a peace. It will ultimately render a two-state solution impossible.”