Zionist entity backs new settlement homes
The occupation authority has approved the construction of nearly 1,200 new homes in settlements in occupied Palestinian areas.
What so-called “Construction Minister Uri Ariel”said they would be built in the West Bank and East Jerusalem to meet the needs of Israeli settlers.
It comes three days before “peace talks “between the Palestinians and “Israel “are due to resume in Jerusalem.
The issue of settlement-building halted the last direct talks.
Palestinians see continued Israeli construction on the land where they aspire to create a new state as one of the biggest obstacles to peace.
The timing of this announcement may deepen the sense of pessimism that surrounds renewed peace talks even before they’ve really begun.
“Ariel” comes from a party which opposes the very idea of a Palestinian state bordering “Israel “on the West Bank of the River Jordan. He’s now invited private firms to tender for the construction work.
“Israel ” is also preparing to free 26 Palestinian prisoners on the eve of this week’s scheduled peace talks. Announcing the settlement construction at the same time may be intended as a sop to right-wing supporters of the government who oppose those prisoner releases.
About 500,000 Jews live in more than 100 settlements built since Israel’s 1967 occupation of the West Bank and East Jerusalem. The Palestinians want to establish their state in those areas, as well as the Gaza Strip.
“Ariel” said 793 apartments would be built in east Jerusalem and 394 in several large West Bank settlements.
Plots are to be offered in “HarHoma and Gilo”, on East Jerusalem’s southern outskirts, and in”PisgatZeev”, on the city’s northern edge.
Tenders will also be invited for homes in Ariel, in the northern West Bank, in Malheh, east of Jerusalem, and in “Efrata and BeitarIlit”, around Bethlehem.
Settlements are considered illegal under international law, although” Israel “disputes this.
PLO executive committee member HananAshrawi condemned the Israeli announcement.
“We believe that” Israel” is deliberately sending a message to the US, to the rest of the world that regardless of any attempt at launching negotiations, ‘we are going to press ahead with stealing more land, building more settlements,” she told the BBC.
“This is an extremely dangerous policy, and if left unchecked it certainly would lead to greater conflict
M.D