Brazil leader calls to halt Jewish building in Yesha

Brazil's President Luis Inacio Lula da Silva has called on the government of Israel to stop building Jewish communities in Judea and Samaria. Following a Friday meeting with PA Chairman Mahmoud Abbas, Silva stated that his country "understands that any new [Jewish] settlement in Palestinian territory should immediately be halted." He further said that the expansion of Jewish communities must be frozen and that future borders should be guaranteed for a new Arab state in Judea and Samaria.

Silva had earlier told two local radio stations that the United Nations should coordinate Middle East negotiations as oppose to the United States, which the Brazilian president said is "one of those responsible" for the current crisis. While in South America, Abbas also plans to visit Argentina and Chile.