UN chief shown Israeli settlement

UN chief Ban Ki-Moon was taken to a West Bank observation point by the Palestinian prime minister today for a closer look at a large Israeli settlement and Israel’s separation barrier.

Mr Ban’s visit came a day after he and other major Middle East mediators again called on Israel to halt all settlement construction.

The Palestinians say settlements eat up land they want for their state.

Palestinian PM Salam Fayyad took Mr Ban to a West Bank hill to illustrate the point. From their position on the outskirts of the Palestinian city of Ramallah, they had a sweeping view of the Israeli settlement of Givat Zeev, which has 11,000 residents.

They also saw the separation barrier, which cuts into Palestinian-claimed land.