The Palestinian Foreign Ministry balked at racist statements by Israeli Agriculture Minister Uri Ariel who called for intensifying the policy of destroying Palestinians' houses and getting Area C of the West Bank to be part of Area E1.

In a statement on Sunday, the ministry said Ariel statements provide a new proof that the extremist Israeli government plans to expand settlements at the expense of the Palestinian state.

The ministry added that Israel is developing the E1 infrastructure and cutting off any connection between the northern and southern parts of the West Bank.

Such measures hamstring serious negotiations to put into effect the two-state solution, the ministry said, warning the repercussion of maintaining such settlement policy.

It urged the international community to halt continued Israeli crimes and violations.

Source: MENA