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Ammon News - China on Monday voiced deep concern over the deteriorating situation in the occupied Palestinian territory, and called on the international community to take urgent and decisive actions to prevent the Palestinian-Israeli issue from being totally derailed.

In remarks at the Security Council briefing on the situation in the Middle East, China's permanent representative to the United Nations, Zhang Jun, said it is concerning that the continued expansion of Israeli settlements has encroached upon Palestinian land and natural resources, undermining the right of the Palestinian people to self-determination.

"The question of Palestine is a litmus test of the international justice and fairness," Zhang said, stressing that piecemeal crisis management cannot substitute for a comprehensive and just settlement.

"Every brutal inch of expansion of settlement is making the prospect of a two-state solution much harder to achieve. We urge Israel to stop its contempt for Resolution 2334, stop all settlement activities, and stop further undermining the foundation for the two-state solution," Zhang said.

Noting that recently the security situation in the occupied territory has continued to be volatile, Zhang said China strongly condemns the continued violence by Israeli security forces and the settlers, which has resulted in heavy Palestinian casualties, including children.

The envoy urged Israel to launch as soon as possible a criminal investigation into the killing of Al Jazeera journalist Shireen Abu Akleh, and release its findings in order to ensure accountability.

He added that his country calls upon the international community, especially those having key influence on the parties concerned, to make genuine efforts for the peace process in the Middle East.