UNITED NATIONS, March 9 (Reuters) - U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Tuesday condemned Israeli plans to build 1,600 more homes on occupied land where Palestinians seek their own state, echoing comments made earlier by U.S. Vice President Joe Biden.
"The secretary-general condemns the approval of plans for the building of 1,600 new housing units in East Jerusalem by the Israeli Ministry of Interior earlier today," U.N. spokesman Martin Nesirky said in a statement.
"(Ban) reiterates that settlements are illegal under international law," he said. "Furthermore, he underscores that settlement activity is contrary to Israel's obligations under the Roadmap (peace plan), and undermines any movement towards a viable peace process." (Reporting by Louis Charbonneau; editing by Anthony Boadle)