News / Palestine

Israel endorses construction of nearly 1,200 new settler units in occupied al-Quds

Thursday, 02 February 2023 6:46 PM [ Last Update: Thursday, 02 February 2023 6:59 PM ]

A general view shows the illegal settler enclave of Nof Zion located in the heart of the Palestinian neighborhood of Jabel Mukaber in East al-Quds. (File photo by Reuters)

In flagrant defiance of the international outcry against the Tel Aviv regime’s illegal settlement expansion activities and land grab policies in the occupied Palestinian territories, Israeli authorities have approved plans for the construction of more than a thousand new settler units in al-Quds.

The Palestinian Information Center reported on Thursday that Israeli officials have given the green light for plans to build nearly 1,200 units as well as other structures for commercial and public purposes on confiscated Palestinian lands in the neighborhoods of al-Thuri, Jabel al-Mukaber and Sur Baher, as well as in the illegal settlements of Kiryat HaYovel, Arnona and Katamonim.

Emboldened by former US president Donald Trump’s all-out support, Israel has stepped up its illegal settlement construction activities in defiance of United Nations Security Council Resolution 2334, which pronounced settlements in the West Bank and East al-Quds “a flagrant violation under international law.”

Hamas: Israel settlement expansion, demolition of structures open war against Palestinians

Hamas says the Israeli regime’s ongoing policy of settlement expansion amounts to an open war against Palestinians and their lands.

Much of the international community regards the Israeli settler units in the occupied lands as illegal.

More than 600,000 Israelis live in over 230 settlements built since the 1967 Israeli occupation of the West Bank and East al-Quds.

All Israeli settlements are illegal under international law. The UN Security Council has condemned Israel’s settlement activities in the occupied territories in several resolutions.

Israel plans to build 18,000 more settlement units in occupied West Bank: Report

Israeli far-right government seeks increasing illegal settlement units soon.

Palestinians want the West Bank as part of a future independent state with East al-Quds as its capital.

The last round of Israeli-Palestinian talks collapsed in 2014. Among the major sticking points in those negotiations was Israel’s continued illegal settlement expansion.

Many Palestinians believe the Israeli plans to annex one-third of the already occupied West Bank, including parts of the strategic Jordan Valley, is only a formality and that a de facto Israeli occupation of their land has been underway for many years.

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