Israeli settlement plans must be stopped immediately, says Mladenov

New York, (ST)   The United Nations envoy to the Middle East, Nikolai Mladenov, affirmed that the recent Israeli settlement plans in the occupied Palestinian territories prevent the establishment of an independent Palestinian state, stressing the need to implement Resolution 2334, which calls for an immediate cessation of settlements.

Wafa News Agency reported that, Mladenov clarified during a session of the Security Council last night that the recent Israeli settlement plans in the occupied Palestinian territories would cut communication between the north and south of the West Bank and between Al-Quds( Jerusalem) and Bethlehem, which would prevent the establishment of an independent Palestinian state.

Mladenov stated that the settlement operations in the occupied West Bank “entrench the occupation and constitute a flagrant violation of United Nations resolutions and international law,” stressing the need to stop demolishing Palestinian real estate and property, stopping their displacement, and apply UN Resolution 2334 of 2016, which affirms the illegality of settlement in the occupied Palestinian territories and demands that it be stopped immediately.

The Israeli occupation authorities recently announced plans to establish 20 thousand new settlement units in occupied Al-Quds (Jerusalem), which will lead to the displacement of thousands of Palestinians and create a geographical and demographic settlement barrier that isolates occupied AlQuds (Jerusalem) from its surroundings from all sides, as it divides the West Bank into two parts and separates its north from its south.

Raghda Sawas