UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon said Monday he was "disappointed" that the Israeli government failed to extend the freeze on Jewish settlements in occupied Palestinian territories, DPA reported.
The United Nations, the European Union, the United States and Russia - the so-called Quartet on the Middle East peace process - last week asked the Israeli government to maintain the 10-month-old moratorium on Jewish settlements in the West Bank in order to advance peace talks with the Palestinians. The freeze expired Sunday night in Israel.
Ban said in a statement he was "disappointed that no such decision has yet been taken and concerned at provocative actions taking place on the ground."
"Jewish settlement activity in the occupied Palestinian territory, including East Jerusalem, is illegal under international law," Ban said, urging Israel to fulfil an obligation under the quartet's road map to freeze the settlement activity.
Ban said he supports "ongoing efforts" to find a way to continue the direct talks between Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas.
"This is the only route to a viable Palestinian state living in peace with a secure Israel," Ban said.
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