UNITED NATIONS, Jan. 21 (Xinhua) -- United Nations Undersecretary-General for Political Affairs Rosemary DiCarlo on Tuesday reiterated that all settlements in Israeli-occupied Palestinian territories are illegal.

"I reiterate that all settlements are illegal under international law and remain an obstacle to peace," DiCarlo told the Security Council quarterly open debate on the situation in the Middle East, including the Palestinian question.

"The annexation of some or all of Area C, if implemented, would deal a devastating blow to the potential of reviving negotiations, advancing regional peace, and the essence of the two-state solution," she added.

Under the Oslo Accords signed in the 1990s, the West Bank is divided into three areas: Area A under Palestinian control, Area B under joint Palestinian and Israeli control, and Area C under full Israeli control. Area C accounts for over 60 percent of the West Bank's 5,655-square-km area.

DiCarlo said that the beginning of 2020 witnessed the continued expansion of settlement activity and the threat of annexation of parts of the West Bank.

Speaking of the political process, the UN political affairs chief said "deadlocked, negative developments continue to undermine the prospects for a two-state solution." Enditem

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