According to a press release by the PLO Negotiations Office, Dr. Saeb Erekat, Chief Palestinian Negotiator, “strongly condemned the Israeli government’s approval of 1,100 new housing units in the illegal settlement of Gilo, built on the land of Beit Jala in the Bethlehem District.”Israel approved the construction of 1,100 settler homes on Tuesday, just days after Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas applied for full UN membership for a Palestinian state.
Dr. Erekat called the approval a “slap in the face to all international efforts to protect the fading prospects of peace in the region…Israel responded to the Quartet Statement and French Initiative with 1,100 no’s.”
“Netanyahu has embarrassed all those in the international community who insisted that there was a peace partner in Israel,” he said.
About 500,000 Jews live in settlements that are considered illegal by international law, though Israel disputes this. Authorities have approved the building of almost 3,000 homes in Gilo over the past two years. The US called the move to build the new settler homes “deeply disappointing” and “counterproductive.”
“The UN, particularly the Security Council, must fulfil its obligations and put an end to these outrageous violations. Israel cannot continue being a state above international law. We invite the council to take a first step towards that end by upholding Palestinian rights and admitting Palestine as the 194th member of the UN.”
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