7 aug 2019
The Israeli occupation authority (IOA) advanced plans for 2,304 settler homes and regularized three settler outposts in the West Bank during a two-day meeting of its higher planning council that ended Tuesday, Peace Now reported.
Plans for 1,466 of these settler homes were deposited, which means they are in the initial stages of discussion, and 838 were validated, which means they were given final approvals, according to Peace Now, a left-wing NGO.
70 percent of the units are for isolated settlements, which are located outside the route of the separation barrier.
At one time Israel and the US had made a distinction between isolated settlements and settlement blocs. Isolated settlements were believed to be vulnerable to withdrawal in any future final-status agreement with the Palestinians. Israel in the past held that settlements blocs would be part of its final sovereign borders.
Under the current US administration of Donald Trump and the current Israeli government, no distinction is made between settlements on either side of the barrier. Earlier this week, premier Benjamin Netanyahu visited the Efrat settlement and reiterated his remarks that “no settler or settlement will be uprooted on his watch.”
Among the more significant projects are almost 300 units for the small, isolated ultra-Orthodox settlement of Asfar, which is located in the Gush Etzion region. About 200 of the units that were deposited are for property within the settlement itself. In addition, the council legalized the adjacent Ibei Hanahal outpost as a new neighborhood of the settlement, approving in the process 96 new homes.
Peace Now has condemned the moves, saying “the approval of settlement plans is part of a disastrous government policy designed to prevent the possibility of peace and a two-state solution, and to annex part or all of the West Bank.”
It noted in particular that the council also approved the Haroeh Haivri outpost as an educational institution with plans for 24 homes. Built in 2015, it is located near the Bedouin herding village of Khan al-Ahmar, which the government has sought to evacuate.
The council also authorized the Givat Salit outpost with plans for 94 homes, but held off on approving the Brosh outpost. It also delayed the approval of 207 homes in the Har Bracha settlement.
UN official: Israeli settlement expansion a flagrant violation of international law
United Nations Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process, Nickolay Mladenov, today described Israel’s plan to expand settlements in the occupied Palestinian territory as a flagrant violation of international law.
The Israeli authorities approved over the past two days the advancement of some 2,400 housing units in settlements in Area C of the occupied West Bank.
“The expansion of settlements has no legal effect and constitutes a flagrant violation of international law,” said Mladenov in a statement. “By advancing the effective annexation of the West Bank, it undermines the chances for establishing a Palestinian state based on relevant UN resolutions, as part of a negotiated two-state solution.”
The UN official called on Israel to “immediately and completely” cease expansion of settlements in the occupied territories.
Britain’s secretary of state urges Israel to halt settlement construction
Britain’s Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, Dominic Rennie Raab, urged Israel to halt its settlement expansion, which he stressed is contrary to international law and promotes the effective annexation of the West Bank, and allow Palestinian construction in the Israeli-controlled area A of the West Bank.
While the Israeli Cabinet approved construction permits for 715 Palestinian units in Area C, much more needs to be done to fulfill the needs of the estimated 300,000 Palestinians there, said Raab in a press statement.
“The UK continues to urge the Government of Israel to develop improved mechanisms that allow Palestinians to build within Area C,” he said.
The UK also remains seriously concerned by the continued demolition of Palestinian property by Israeli authorities, including the July 22 demolition of 10 Palestinian buildings in Wadi al Hummus area in Sur Baher, a neighborhood of occupied East Jerusalem, the statement concluded.
The Israeli Higher Planning Committee of the so-called Civil Administration, an army of the Israeli military government in charge of the occupied West Bank, announced in the last two days plans to advance 2,304 settlement housing units in Israeli settlements in the West Bank, a decision that has provoked Palestinian and international criticism.
EU calls on Israel to cease the policy of settlement construction and expansion
The European Union criticized today Israeli settlement plans in the occupied Palestinian territory and called on Israel to cease the policy of settlement construction and expansion.
"Israeli authorities have approved the advancement of well over 2,000 housing units in illegal settlements in the occupied West Bank.
The European Union's position on Israeli settlement policy in the occupied Palestinian territory is clear and remains unchanged: all settlement activity is illegal under international law and it erodes the viability of the two-state solution and the prospects for a lasting peace," according to a statement by the EU spokesperson.
Commenting on the Israeli approval last week of 715 housing units for Palestinians in Area C of the occupied West Bank, which is under full Israeli control, parallel with the construction of thousands of units in the illegal Israeli settlements, the EU spokesperson said the Palestinian population living in Area C "continues to face repeated confiscations, demolitions, displacements and land expropriation, while almost all of their submitted master plans and building permits for Palestinian development remain unapproved."
The spokesperson concluded: "The EU expects the Israeli authorities to fully meet their obligations as an occupying power under International Humanitarian Law, and to cease the policy of settlement construction and expansion, of designating land for exclusive Israeli use, and of denying Palestinian development.
The EU will continue to support a resumption of a meaningful process towards a negotiated two-state solution, the only realistic and viable way to fulfill the legitimate aspirations of both parties."
Turkey condemns Israel’s new settlement projects in West Bank
The Turkish Foreign Ministry strongly condemned today Israel’s announcement of the expansion of illegal settlements in the occupied Palestinian territory.
A Foreign Ministry statement accused Israel of robbing Palestinian rights by advancing the construction of more than 2300 housing units in the settlements, which it stressed came in total disregard for and in violation of international law.
It said it rejects Israel’s behavior, which aims at destroying the two-state solution and on sustaining the occupation, reiterating its stand by the Palestinian cause and people.
Germany says Israeli settlement plans run counter to a negotiated two-state solution
Germany said today that Israeli advancement of plans to build more than 2000 housing units in illegal West Bank settlements run counter to a negotiated two-state solution.
A statement by a German Foreign Ministry spokesman said Germany rejects all unilateral steps that jeopardize a two-state solution.
Commenting on the Israeli cabinet's decision last week to approve 715 housing units for the Palestinians in area C of the occupied West Bank, which is under Israeli control, in addition to approving the construction of thousands of housing units in the illegal Israeli settlements, the spokesman said that granting of permits for Palestinian construction in these areas should be done in agreement with the Palestinian Authority and independent of any decision on the possible expansion of settlements.
Abu Rudeineh strongly condemns Israel's new settlement construction plan in West Bank
Presidential spokesman Nabil Abu Rudeineh strongly condemned today the continuation of Israeli settlement activities and the occupation authorities’ plan to build 2300 new housing units in West Bank settlements.
Abu Rudeineh said that the Israeli actions and decisions, including settlements, arrests, and demolitions of homes, carry devastating risks, stressing that all settlements are illegal and that Israel's violation of Palestinian rights and defiance of international legitimacy do not lead to any peace, but would rather contribute to the continuation of tension and instability in an already volatile region.
He said that without solving the Palestinian issue in accordance with international legitimacy and the Arab peace initiative, the next stage would represent dangerous and difficult crossroads for the region and the world, stressing that a just peace must be based on an independent Palestinian state on the 1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its capital.
Plans for 1,466 of these settler homes were deposited, which means they are in the initial stages of discussion, and 838 were validated, which means they were given final approvals, according to Peace Now, a left-wing NGO.
70 percent of the units are for isolated settlements, which are located outside the route of the separation barrier.
At one time Israel and the US had made a distinction between isolated settlements and settlement blocs. Isolated settlements were believed to be vulnerable to withdrawal in any future final-status agreement with the Palestinians. Israel in the past held that settlements blocs would be part of its final sovereign borders.
Under the current US administration of Donald Trump and the current Israeli government, no distinction is made between settlements on either side of the barrier. Earlier this week, premier Benjamin Netanyahu visited the Efrat settlement and reiterated his remarks that “no settler or settlement will be uprooted on his watch.”
Among the more significant projects are almost 300 units for the small, isolated ultra-Orthodox settlement of Asfar, which is located in the Gush Etzion region. About 200 of the units that were deposited are for property within the settlement itself. In addition, the council legalized the adjacent Ibei Hanahal outpost as a new neighborhood of the settlement, approving in the process 96 new homes.
Peace Now has condemned the moves, saying “the approval of settlement plans is part of a disastrous government policy designed to prevent the possibility of peace and a two-state solution, and to annex part or all of the West Bank.”
It noted in particular that the council also approved the Haroeh Haivri outpost as an educational institution with plans for 24 homes. Built in 2015, it is located near the Bedouin herding village of Khan al-Ahmar, which the government has sought to evacuate.
The council also authorized the Givat Salit outpost with plans for 94 homes, but held off on approving the Brosh outpost. It also delayed the approval of 207 homes in the Har Bracha settlement.
UN official: Israeli settlement expansion a flagrant violation of international law
United Nations Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process, Nickolay Mladenov, today described Israel’s plan to expand settlements in the occupied Palestinian territory as a flagrant violation of international law.
The Israeli authorities approved over the past two days the advancement of some 2,400 housing units in settlements in Area C of the occupied West Bank.
“The expansion of settlements has no legal effect and constitutes a flagrant violation of international law,” said Mladenov in a statement. “By advancing the effective annexation of the West Bank, it undermines the chances for establishing a Palestinian state based on relevant UN resolutions, as part of a negotiated two-state solution.”
The UN official called on Israel to “immediately and completely” cease expansion of settlements in the occupied territories.
Britain’s secretary of state urges Israel to halt settlement construction
Britain’s Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, Dominic Rennie Raab, urged Israel to halt its settlement expansion, which he stressed is contrary to international law and promotes the effective annexation of the West Bank, and allow Palestinian construction in the Israeli-controlled area A of the West Bank.
While the Israeli Cabinet approved construction permits for 715 Palestinian units in Area C, much more needs to be done to fulfill the needs of the estimated 300,000 Palestinians there, said Raab in a press statement.
“The UK continues to urge the Government of Israel to develop improved mechanisms that allow Palestinians to build within Area C,” he said.
The UK also remains seriously concerned by the continued demolition of Palestinian property by Israeli authorities, including the July 22 demolition of 10 Palestinian buildings in Wadi al Hummus area in Sur Baher, a neighborhood of occupied East Jerusalem, the statement concluded.
The Israeli Higher Planning Committee of the so-called Civil Administration, an army of the Israeli military government in charge of the occupied West Bank, announced in the last two days plans to advance 2,304 settlement housing units in Israeli settlements in the West Bank, a decision that has provoked Palestinian and international criticism.
EU calls on Israel to cease the policy of settlement construction and expansion
The European Union criticized today Israeli settlement plans in the occupied Palestinian territory and called on Israel to cease the policy of settlement construction and expansion.
"Israeli authorities have approved the advancement of well over 2,000 housing units in illegal settlements in the occupied West Bank.
The European Union's position on Israeli settlement policy in the occupied Palestinian territory is clear and remains unchanged: all settlement activity is illegal under international law and it erodes the viability of the two-state solution and the prospects for a lasting peace," according to a statement by the EU spokesperson.
Commenting on the Israeli approval last week of 715 housing units for Palestinians in Area C of the occupied West Bank, which is under full Israeli control, parallel with the construction of thousands of units in the illegal Israeli settlements, the EU spokesperson said the Palestinian population living in Area C "continues to face repeated confiscations, demolitions, displacements and land expropriation, while almost all of their submitted master plans and building permits for Palestinian development remain unapproved."
The spokesperson concluded: "The EU expects the Israeli authorities to fully meet their obligations as an occupying power under International Humanitarian Law, and to cease the policy of settlement construction and expansion, of designating land for exclusive Israeli use, and of denying Palestinian development.
The EU will continue to support a resumption of a meaningful process towards a negotiated two-state solution, the only realistic and viable way to fulfill the legitimate aspirations of both parties."
Turkey condemns Israel’s new settlement projects in West Bank
The Turkish Foreign Ministry strongly condemned today Israel’s announcement of the expansion of illegal settlements in the occupied Palestinian territory.
A Foreign Ministry statement accused Israel of robbing Palestinian rights by advancing the construction of more than 2300 housing units in the settlements, which it stressed came in total disregard for and in violation of international law.
It said it rejects Israel’s behavior, which aims at destroying the two-state solution and on sustaining the occupation, reiterating its stand by the Palestinian cause and people.
Germany says Israeli settlement plans run counter to a negotiated two-state solution
Germany said today that Israeli advancement of plans to build more than 2000 housing units in illegal West Bank settlements run counter to a negotiated two-state solution.
A statement by a German Foreign Ministry spokesman said Germany rejects all unilateral steps that jeopardize a two-state solution.
Commenting on the Israeli cabinet's decision last week to approve 715 housing units for the Palestinians in area C of the occupied West Bank, which is under Israeli control, in addition to approving the construction of thousands of housing units in the illegal Israeli settlements, the spokesman said that granting of permits for Palestinian construction in these areas should be done in agreement with the Palestinian Authority and independent of any decision on the possible expansion of settlements.
Abu Rudeineh strongly condemns Israel's new settlement construction plan in West Bank
Presidential spokesman Nabil Abu Rudeineh strongly condemned today the continuation of Israeli settlement activities and the occupation authorities’ plan to build 2300 new housing units in West Bank settlements.
Abu Rudeineh said that the Israeli actions and decisions, including settlements, arrests, and demolitions of homes, carry devastating risks, stressing that all settlements are illegal and that Israel's violation of Palestinian rights and defiance of international legitimacy do not lead to any peace, but would rather contribute to the continuation of tension and instability in an already volatile region.
He said that without solving the Palestinian issue in accordance with international legitimacy and the Arab peace initiative, the next stage would represent dangerous and difficult crossroads for the region and the world, stressing that a just peace must be based on an independent Palestinian state on the 1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its capital.
6 aug 2019
The far-right extremist Israeli government on Benjamin Netanyahu and the Civil Administration Office, the executive and administrative branch of the illegal Israeli occupation of the West Bank, including Jerusalem, approved the construction of hundreds of units in Gush Etzion illegal colonialist bloc, south of Bethlehem.
Israeli Channel 7 has reported that the approval was for 300 new units in Etzion.
Shlomo Neeman, the head of Gush Etzion block, welcomed the approval of the 300 additional units, and said that this would pave the way for more units in the colonialist block.
Israel’s colonies in the occupied West Bank, including those in and around occupied East Jerusalem, are direct violations of International Law, the Fourth Geneva Convention and various united nations and security council resolutions.
Israeli Channel 7 has reported that the approval was for 300 new units in Etzion.
Shlomo Neeman, the head of Gush Etzion block, welcomed the approval of the 300 additional units, and said that this would pave the way for more units in the colonialist block.
Israel’s colonies in the occupied West Bank, including those in and around occupied East Jerusalem, are direct violations of International Law, the Fourth Geneva Convention and various united nations and security council resolutions.
3 aug 2019
The Israeli occupation army’s civil administration is set to advance plans next week for at least 2,430 new settler homes and to authorize four outposts as neighborhoods of existing settlements, Peace Now said on Friday.
Peace Now noted that some of those outposts were already evacuated, without giving further details.
Recently, Israel’s security cabinet gave initial approval for the construction of 6,000 homes for Jewish settlers in Area C of the occupied West Bank, which is under Israel’s military control.
However, no details of the plans were publicized, and it is presumed that they will now go through the civil administration’s regular planning process. It is unclear if the homes set to be advanced next week were part of the security cabinet’s decision.
Last Wednesday, Israeli premier Benjamin Netanyahu visited the Efrat settlement and swore that as long as he was in office, no settler or settlement would be uprooted.
The number of housing units that will likely be advances is as follows: 354 in Nili, 346 in Beit El, 215 in Asfar, 207 in Bracha, 194 in Ganei Mod’in, 168 in Talmon, 132 in Kfar Adumim, 98 in Ma’aleh Amos, 96 in Kiryat Netafim, 94 in Beit Hagai, 94 in Mechola, 80 in Yakir, 70 in Shim’a, 66 in Efrat, 61 in Alon Shvuet, 51 in Shiloh, 29 in Otniel, 27 in Maskiot, 19 in Pedu’el, 18 in Ma’aleh Adumim and 11 in Enav.
The four outposts to be approved as neighborhoods of existing settlements are: Ibei Hanahal, Givat Sal’it, Haroe Haivri and Brosh.
Peace Now noted that some of those outposts were already evacuated, without giving further details.
Recently, Israel’s security cabinet gave initial approval for the construction of 6,000 homes for Jewish settlers in Area C of the occupied West Bank, which is under Israel’s military control.
However, no details of the plans were publicized, and it is presumed that they will now go through the civil administration’s regular planning process. It is unclear if the homes set to be advanced next week were part of the security cabinet’s decision.
Last Wednesday, Israeli premier Benjamin Netanyahu visited the Efrat settlement and swore that as long as he was in office, no settler or settlement would be uprooted.
The number of housing units that will likely be advances is as follows: 354 in Nili, 346 in Beit El, 215 in Asfar, 207 in Bracha, 194 in Ganei Mod’in, 168 in Talmon, 132 in Kfar Adumim, 98 in Ma’aleh Amos, 96 in Kiryat Netafim, 94 in Beit Hagai, 94 in Mechola, 80 in Yakir, 70 in Shim’a, 66 in Efrat, 61 in Alon Shvuet, 51 in Shiloh, 29 in Otniel, 27 in Maskiot, 19 in Pedu’el, 18 in Ma’aleh Adumim and 11 in Enav.
The four outposts to be approved as neighborhoods of existing settlements are: Ibei Hanahal, Givat Sal’it, Haroe Haivri and Brosh.
1 aug 2019
Israeli premier Benjamin Netanyahu on Wednesday inaugurated a new promenade for Jewish settlers during a visit to the illegal settlement of Efrat, south of the occupied West Bank.
Netanyahu also announced his intent to advance plans for a further 8,250 housing units to be built in Efrat.
As he was touring Efrat settlement, Netanyahu said that no West Bank settlement homes would be demolished on his watch.
“No settlement or settler will be uprooted. That is over. What you’re doing here is forever,” he said
On Tuesday, Netanyahu’s security cabinet approved 6,000 construction licenses for homes in neighboring settlements.
Netanyahu also announced his intent to advance plans for a further 8,250 housing units to be built in Efrat.
As he was touring Efrat settlement, Netanyahu said that no West Bank settlement homes would be demolished on his watch.
“No settlement or settler will be uprooted. That is over. What you’re doing here is forever,” he said
On Tuesday, Netanyahu’s security cabinet approved 6,000 construction licenses for homes in neighboring settlements.
The former head of Israel’s Shin Bet security service, Yoram Cohen, warned of the annexation of so-called “Area C” in the West Bank to Israel, would lead to “an unnecessary bloodbath”.
“Steps should be taken to reduce the occupation in the West Bank, improve transportation, improve work, and transfer areas from Area B to Area A, which is entirely under the control of the Palestinian Authority,” Cohen said.
Area B is under Palestinian civilian control and Israeli security control. Area C, which accounts for 60 percent of the West Bank, is under full Israeli control under the Oslo Accords.
Earlier this week, the Israeli cabinet approved a plan to build 6,000 housing units in Israeli settlements in area C and only 700 housing units for Palestinians.
Cohen referred to the armed clash at the security fence in the eastern Gaza Strip last night, during which Hamas fighter Hani Abu Salah was killed when two officers and two soldiers were moderately wounded. “The state is investing billions in manpower, technology and intelligence to prevent such events.
But in this case the work was done well. ”
He added that launching an Israeli attack against the Gaza Strip in the wake of such an operation could lead to another round in which hundreds of rockets were fired at the “Gaza envelope” (the region of Israel surrounding the Gaza strip). “Our deterrence may have been damaged by the fact that we did not want to degenerate into a major battle or a war,” he said.
Cohen added that, during the Gaza offensive in 2014, “we did not know the places of the tunnels on the Israeli side, and we were not able to correctly estimate the intentions of the other side for the war.”
“Steps should be taken to reduce the occupation in the West Bank, improve transportation, improve work, and transfer areas from Area B to Area A, which is entirely under the control of the Palestinian Authority,” Cohen said.
Area B is under Palestinian civilian control and Israeli security control. Area C, which accounts for 60 percent of the West Bank, is under full Israeli control under the Oslo Accords.
Earlier this week, the Israeli cabinet approved a plan to build 6,000 housing units in Israeli settlements in area C and only 700 housing units for Palestinians.
Cohen referred to the armed clash at the security fence in the eastern Gaza Strip last night, during which Hamas fighter Hani Abu Salah was killed when two officers and two soldiers were moderately wounded. “The state is investing billions in manpower, technology and intelligence to prevent such events.
But in this case the work was done well. ”
He added that launching an Israeli attack against the Gaza Strip in the wake of such an operation could lead to another round in which hundreds of rockets were fired at the “Gaza envelope” (the region of Israel surrounding the Gaza strip). “Our deterrence may have been damaged by the fact that we did not want to degenerate into a major battle or a war,” he said.
Cohen added that, during the Gaza offensive in 2014, “we did not know the places of the tunnels on the Israeli side, and we were not able to correctly estimate the intentions of the other side for the war.”
For the fourth year in a row, and despite the urging of several leading human rights organizations and experts, including United Nations Special Rapporteurs, the United Nations has failed again to include Israel in its annual blacklist of armed forces that commit atrocities against youth, said Hanan Ashrawi, member of the Executive Committee of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO), today.
“This failure is inexcusable, given Israel’s dismal human rights record and its documented abuses against Palestinian children, including the arbitrary detention of hundreds of children every year, its use of torture against them and other grave violations, including the deliberate killing and maiming of roughly 2,800 Palestinian children in 2018 alone.
Turning a blind eye to Israeli crimes and failing to apply such nominal standards of accountability emboldens the occupying power to escalate its flagrant violations, as documented and reported by human rights organizations,” she said in a statement, according to WAFA.
“In light of the international community’s abdication of its responsibilities vis-à-vis international law, it is no surprise that Israel continues to commit war crimes and violate international law and human rights on a daily basis with shameful impunity.
Additionally, the right-wing in Israel is exploiting the current US-Israeli partnership to create new facts on the ground with absolute disregard to international law and declared rejection of the internationally-endorsed requirements of peace, including Palestinian statehood.
This was clearly evident in the Israeli Cabinet’s farcical “approval” of Palestinian homes in so-called Area C in the occupied West Bank as a way to whitewash the construction of 6,000 new illegal settlement units on stolen Palestinian land.
In this regard, we reaffirm that all settlement construction in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, is illegal and constitutes a war crime under the Rome Statute. Israeli intransigence and American collusion cannot change this legal fact or set it aside.”
Ashrawi concluded by stressing that “the international community and its bodies have a legal and moral obligation to hold Israel accountable for its relentless criminality and rogue conduct, to preserve the standing and relevance of the international rules-based system, and to ensure that the Palestinian people enjoy their inalienable and absolute rights to self-determination and freedom.
“Peace and prosperity in the region will remain elusive so long as racist and colonial agendas that dismiss Palestinian rights are perpetuated by international inaction on the one hand and US collusion on the other.”
“This failure is inexcusable, given Israel’s dismal human rights record and its documented abuses against Palestinian children, including the arbitrary detention of hundreds of children every year, its use of torture against them and other grave violations, including the deliberate killing and maiming of roughly 2,800 Palestinian children in 2018 alone.
Turning a blind eye to Israeli crimes and failing to apply such nominal standards of accountability emboldens the occupying power to escalate its flagrant violations, as documented and reported by human rights organizations,” she said in a statement, according to WAFA.
“In light of the international community’s abdication of its responsibilities vis-à-vis international law, it is no surprise that Israel continues to commit war crimes and violate international law and human rights on a daily basis with shameful impunity.
Additionally, the right-wing in Israel is exploiting the current US-Israeli partnership to create new facts on the ground with absolute disregard to international law and declared rejection of the internationally-endorsed requirements of peace, including Palestinian statehood.
This was clearly evident in the Israeli Cabinet’s farcical “approval” of Palestinian homes in so-called Area C in the occupied West Bank as a way to whitewash the construction of 6,000 new illegal settlement units on stolen Palestinian land.
In this regard, we reaffirm that all settlement construction in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, is illegal and constitutes a war crime under the Rome Statute. Israeli intransigence and American collusion cannot change this legal fact or set it aside.”
Ashrawi concluded by stressing that “the international community and its bodies have a legal and moral obligation to hold Israel accountable for its relentless criminality and rogue conduct, to preserve the standing and relevance of the international rules-based system, and to ensure that the Palestinian people enjoy their inalienable and absolute rights to self-determination and freedom.
“Peace and prosperity in the region will remain elusive so long as racist and colonial agendas that dismiss Palestinian rights are perpetuated by international inaction on the one hand and US collusion on the other.”
31 july 2019
Israel's Security Cabinet on Wednesday approved a new plan to build 6,000 housing units in Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank.
In another context, the Security Cabinet on Tuesday decided to allow the Palestinians to build 715 housing units in Area C, which covers about 60% of the West Bank area and is exclusively administered by Israel.
Israeli media sources said that the decision came a few days ahead of a scheduled visit by Jared Kushner, the US president's senior advisor, to Israel and a number of Arab countries.
Israel in the past years has stepped up its settlement construction activity in Area C. Meanwhile, dozens of Palestinian homes and buildings have been demolished under the pretext of being unlicensed.
In another context, the Security Cabinet on Tuesday decided to allow the Palestinians to build 715 housing units in Area C, which covers about 60% of the West Bank area and is exclusively administered by Israel.
Israeli media sources said that the decision came a few days ahead of a scheduled visit by Jared Kushner, the US president's senior advisor, to Israel and a number of Arab countries.
Israel in the past years has stepped up its settlement construction activity in Area C. Meanwhile, dozens of Palestinian homes and buildings have been demolished under the pretext of being unlicensed.
30 july 2019
Israel's Security Cabinet has been discussing a new settlement plan put forward by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for "Area C" in the occupied West Bank.
Haaretz newspaper on Tuesday reported that Netanyahu's plan suggests the construction of 6,000 housing units in Israeli settlements.
The discussion of Netanyahu's proposal comes a few days ahead of a scheduled visit by Jared Kushner, the US president's senior advisor, to Israel.
Kushner is also responsible for the implementation of the so-called "Deal of the Century", which, the US claims, is aimed at settling the Palestinian-Israeli conflict.
Haaretz newspaper on Tuesday reported that Netanyahu's plan suggests the construction of 6,000 housing units in Israeli settlements.
The discussion of Netanyahu's proposal comes a few days ahead of a scheduled visit by Jared Kushner, the US president's senior advisor, to Israel.
Kushner is also responsible for the implementation of the so-called "Deal of the Century", which, the US claims, is aimed at settling the Palestinian-Israeli conflict.
28 july 2019
Israeli settlers on Sunday installed caravans on Palestinian lands in the northern Jordan Valley.
Activist Aref Daraghmeh said that Israeli settlers have recently brought several mobile homes in al-Mermala area in the northern Jordan Valley.
He added that the Israeli occupation authorities about a month ago paved a new road in the area amid expectations that a new settler outpost will be established there.
According to Peace Now, 32 random settler outposts have been established on Palestinian-owned lands since 2012, most of which were set up after Donald Trump was elected the president of the United States.
Activist Aref Daraghmeh said that Israeli settlers have recently brought several mobile homes in al-Mermala area in the northern Jordan Valley.
He added that the Israeli occupation authorities about a month ago paved a new road in the area amid expectations that a new settler outpost will be established there.
According to Peace Now, 32 random settler outposts have been established on Palestinian-owned lands since 2012, most of which were set up after Donald Trump was elected the president of the United States.
