UN Secretary General Kofi Annan on Monday expressed concern over Israel's new military zone in occupied Palestinian land along the Green Line between the West Bank and Israel, saying it was a provocative act that could only undermine efforts to find a way out of the conflict.
"The secretary general is concerned by the announcement earlier today by the [Israeli army] that is has established a closed military zone in the northern part of the occupied Palestinian territory," Annan's spokesman, Fred Eckhard, said in a statement, cited by the UN news service.
He added that the creation of such a zone "will impose additional restrictions on the Palestinians' movement."
The Israeli army on Monday said it created a "buffer zone" along a northern stretch of the West Bank on the boundary with Israel.
Entry into this zone is from now on forbidden to all (Palestinian) residents of the West Bank unless they have a special permit.
Israel decided to create a special closed-off area on September 16.
The army says that the new conditions, which will place severe restrictions on Palestinians, were taken to prevent "terrorist attacks" in Israel and to prevent Palestinians from entering Israel illegally to work.
The zone stretches at least 30 kilometers (20 miles) between the northwestern town of Tulkarem and Jenin in the north, and is up to two kilometers deep in places.
"It is a unilateral and provocative act, contrary to the signed agreements between Israel and the Palestinians, and it can only undermine ongoing efforts to find a way out of the present crisis," the UN spokesman said.
The Palestinians have strongly criticized the creation of the zone, saying it is a preparation by Israel to annex the land in the area.
"We condemn this decision by Israel, and Palestinian President (Yasser) Arafat has sent a letter to this effect to the US President George W. Bush, because this will destroy the lives of thousands of Palestinians and the Oslo peace accords," Palestinian Information Minister Yasser Abed Rabbo said ealier in response to the Israeli move – Albawaba.com
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