Wide International rejection of new Israeli settlement plan in occupied Jerusalem

Occupied Jerusalem (ST): The Israeli declaration about its new settlement plan to construct 1257 settlement units on the village of Beit Safafa, south east of Jerusalem was rejected and denounced by Palestinian and international circles.

The UN envoy to the Middle East Nickolay Mladenov reiterated that the construction of Israeli settlements on occupied Palestinian territories violates international law and undermines the possibility of establishing the Palestinian state.

EU foreign policy commissioner Josep Borrell expressed the EU’s concern about the Israeli declaration demanding an immediate halt of the settlement activities. He affirmed that the EU stand towards Israeli settlement is unchanged as these activities are illegal according to the International law.

The Italian foreign Ministry affirmed that constructing new settlements in occupied Jerusalem constitutes a flagrant violation of the international law and undermines the possibility of establishing an independent Palestinian state. 

The spokesman for the Palestinian Presidency Nabeel Abu Rudaineh said that the occupation authorities have been exploiting the absolute support offered by the US administration to expand settlement activities and undermine the establishment of an independent state stressing that such support would never change the reality that settlement is illegal activity and runs contrary to UN resolution.

Palestinian prime Minister Mohammad Ishtiyah affirmed that the occupation authorities stepped up settlement activities to impose a new status quo before the departure of Trump.

The Palestinian Foreign Ministry said that the new Israeli settlement plan aims at isolating Jerusalem from its surroundings demanding the international community to shoulder its responsibilities and account the occupation authorities for their criminal practices against the Palestinians.

K.Q.