Pakistan, May 10 -- Pakistan warned the UN Security Council on Saturday that expanding Israeli settlements and annexation measures in the occupied West Bank were destroying the prospects for a viable Palestinian state and urged "influential" nations to hold Israel accountable. Speaking at the Council meeting on the West Bank, convened by the United Kingdom, France, and other Council members, Ambassador to the UN Asim Iftikhar Ahmad condemned Israel's efforts to transform "de facto annexation into de jure control" through new legislative and administrative measures.

"The systematic annexation of the occupied West Bank, expansion of illegal settlements, demolitions, land seizures, and forced displacement of Palestinians continue unabated, ...