The United Nations and the European Union have denounced recent Israeli initiatives to accelerate settlement construction in occupied Palestinian territory. The United Nations has condemned Israeli plans to build more settlements in the occupied West Bank. Spokesman for the UN Secretary General Stephane Dujarric said any unilateral decision can be an obstacle to the two-state goal is of grave concern. He said there is a need for the two parties to engage in a bonafide negotiation to reach the goal of two states.<br/><br/> European Union in a statement in Brussels, said that Israeli settlement announcements seriously undermine the prospects for a peace deal in the Middle East. Israel said yesterday that it had approved 2,500 news homes in the occupied West Bank days after it gave thev go-ahead for 566 new units in east Jerusalem in a major expansion.