U.N. envoy says Israel is violating law UNITED NATIONS, June 7 (UPI) -- A U.N. envoy said Thursday that construction of new Israeli residences on Palestinian territory violates international law. "All settlement construction, whether on private Palestinian land or elsewhere in occupied Palestinian territory, is contrary to international law," said Robert Serry in a statement issued by the Office of U.N. Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process. The comments came after the Israeli government announced it would build 300 new units in the Beit El settlement, under control of the Palestinian Authority, the statement said. The construction was ordered by Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu after Parliament rejected legislation to legalize settlement outposts, the statement said, quoting media sources.