5 may 2018
The National Office for the Defense of Land on Saturday said that the Israeli occupation authorities have recently issued new military orders aimed at facilitating settlement construction on Palestinian lands.
The National Office said in its weekly report that the new orders prevent the publication of details related to the new settlement projects in Arabic, as was the case previously, to make it difficult for Palestinians to confront these projects.
The Office explained that prior notices of land confiscation for settlement purposes used to be published in at least two Arab newspapers in accordance with the provisions of a Jordanian law which the Israeli authorities acted under for a period of time.
That law enabled anti-settlement activists to obstruct settlement construction in some cases.
Eli Ben-Dahan, Israel's deputy minister of war, has issued a new order that does not oblige his authorities to announce their settlement projects in Arab newspapers. They can publish them in Arabic on the website of the Civil Administration only.
Ben-Dahan believes that this step will deprive the Palestinians of an effective tool usually used to disrupt the settlement expansion.
In a related context, the National Office for the Defense of Land said that the Israeli Supreme Court has decided to give the residents of the Palestinian Bedouin community of al-Khan al-Ahmar in East Jerusalem a time limit that expires next Thursday to evacuate their homes.
The Office said that the displacement plan targeting the Bedouins of al-Khan al-Ahmar falls in line with an Israeli project to expand settlement construction in the eastern part of Jerusalem toward the Dead Sea in preparation for ending the Palestinian presence in Area C.
The Israeli authorities further intend to open a new crossing northeast of Jerusalem near Anatot settlement and establish a wide road network to link settlements deep inside the West Bank with Israeli roads in Jerusalem.
The National Office said in its weekly report that the new orders prevent the publication of details related to the new settlement projects in Arabic, as was the case previously, to make it difficult for Palestinians to confront these projects.
The Office explained that prior notices of land confiscation for settlement purposes used to be published in at least two Arab newspapers in accordance with the provisions of a Jordanian law which the Israeli authorities acted under for a period of time.
That law enabled anti-settlement activists to obstruct settlement construction in some cases.
Eli Ben-Dahan, Israel's deputy minister of war, has issued a new order that does not oblige his authorities to announce their settlement projects in Arab newspapers. They can publish them in Arabic on the website of the Civil Administration only.
Ben-Dahan believes that this step will deprive the Palestinians of an effective tool usually used to disrupt the settlement expansion.
In a related context, the National Office for the Defense of Land said that the Israeli Supreme Court has decided to give the residents of the Palestinian Bedouin community of al-Khan al-Ahmar in East Jerusalem a time limit that expires next Thursday to evacuate their homes.
The Office said that the displacement plan targeting the Bedouins of al-Khan al-Ahmar falls in line with an Israeli project to expand settlement construction in the eastern part of Jerusalem toward the Dead Sea in preparation for ending the Palestinian presence in Area C.
The Israeli authorities further intend to open a new crossing northeast of Jerusalem near Anatot settlement and establish a wide road network to link settlements deep inside the West Bank with Israeli roads in Jerusalem.
A Palestinian politician has revealed that the European Union (EU) intends to release a detailed report warning against Israel’s settlement activities and projects in the occupied Palestinian territories and its dangerous impacts on the two-state solution.
The politician, who is familiar with the recent talks that occurred at the EU headquarters in Brussels, told the Palestinian Information Center (PIC) on condition of anonymity that the report would be issued in view of Israeli plans to expand dozens of small and large settlements in Jerusalem and the West Bank.
He affirmed that the EU had obtained reliable information and maps in this regard from the Palestinian side and local and international organizations such as Peace Now, B’Tselem and OCHA as well as European groups and officials who observe Israel’s hectic settlement activities in the occupied territories.
The politician, who is familiar with the recent talks that occurred at the EU headquarters in Brussels, told the Palestinian Information Center (PIC) on condition of anonymity that the report would be issued in view of Israeli plans to expand dozens of small and large settlements in Jerusalem and the West Bank.
He affirmed that the EU had obtained reliable information and maps in this regard from the Palestinian side and local and international organizations such as Peace Now, B’Tselem and OCHA as well as European groups and officials who observe Israel’s hectic settlement activities in the occupied territories.
Israeli agriculture minister Uri Ariel reportedly reached an agreement with the Jewish settlers living in Netzer Hazani settlement, north of the Gaza Strip, to relocate them to the occupied West Bank.
According to Israel’s Channel 7, the settlers of Netzer Hazani will be evacuated to the settlement of Ariel in southern Nablus.
Minister Ariel said in Facebook remarks that he had signed an agreement with the municipality of Ariel settlement to move Netzer Hazani settlers to live there.
As part of that agreement, new housing units, schools and service structures will be built in Ariel settlement at a cost of 46 million shekels ($13 million).
According to Israel’s Channel 7, the settlers of Netzer Hazani will be evacuated to the settlement of Ariel in southern Nablus.
Minister Ariel said in Facebook remarks that he had signed an agreement with the municipality of Ariel settlement to move Netzer Hazani settlers to live there.
As part of that agreement, new housing units, schools and service structures will be built in Ariel settlement at a cost of 46 million shekels ($13 million).
25 apr 2018
Israeli forces started two days ago preparation works for the construction of a new settlement neighborhood over a Palestinian land in Sour Baher town east of Occupied Jerusalem, according to Haaretz Hebrew newspaper.
The newspaper revealed that the neighborhood is going to be built over a Palestinian land that was confiscated in 1970s, and that it will be allocated for the Israeli demobilized soldiers.
Israeli forces also started uprooting olive trees, that were planted by Palestinians in the area, as they are planning to establish 180 settlement units in the first stage of the project.
The newspaper revealed that the neighborhood is going to be built over a Palestinian land that was confiscated in 1970s, and that it will be allocated for the Israeli demobilized soldiers.
Israeli forces also started uprooting olive trees, that were planted by Palestinians in the area, as they are planning to establish 180 settlement units in the first stage of the project.
24 apr 2018
Facts on the ground show that Israel’s investment in the occupied West Bank is much more than the one inside the occupied 1948 borders. Within this context, the Israeli government allocated NIS 417,000,000 for developing settlements, in the Dead Sea area, in order to attract more settlers, expand the settlements outside the Green Line and Judaize it.
According to the above information, the budget is not allocated to remedy the Dead Sea drought, but to strengthen and support the settlement outside of the Green Line, within the so-called “Regional Council Megillot”, north of the Dead Sea, which means expansion under the slogan of development of tourism and maintenance of road no. 90.
In turn, Head of the Tamar Regional Council and a member of Kibbutz Ein Gedi, Dov Latinov, said the decision will serve as a lifeline to save the Dead Sea and to further develop the settlements there, as the sea is an irreplaceable national treasure,” after the government decision.
According to the PNN, the Jordan Valley region is considered part of the Afro-Asian crater pit, one of the lowest in the world, located at a low of about 380 miles below sea level. The Palestinian Jordan Valley stretches along the eastern side of the West Bank, from Ein Gedi (the Dead Sea) southward, to the so-called “Tal Makhkhoz”, on the borders of Bisan, northward inside the Green Line, and from the Jordan River in the east to the eastern slopes of the West Bank of the Jordan Valley in the west. This area accounts for 28.5% of the West Bank 2,400 sq km. Settler profits through investment in the northern Jordan Valley amount to $ 650,000,000, annually.
At the same time, the attacks and violations of the “pay the price gangs”, against Palestinians and their properties, escalated under the protection of the occupation government and silent encouragement from the American administration, during the past week. These terrorist groups carried out several attacks, including those perpetrated against the the eastern village of Lubban, attacking citizens’ property and assaulting farmers from the village of Madma, during the plowing of their land, and forcing them to leave by way of tear gas bombs.
Moreover, they assaulted the villagers of Al-Tawana in Mafassar Yatta, threw rocks at them, attacked a school bus in Yatta, resulting in the injury of 13-year-old Ahmed Abu Aram, as well as assaults on students in the Salameh neighborhood, in the Old City of Hebron, puncturing the tires of 45 vehicles in the village of Burqa, east of Ramallah, and cutting down about 100 olive fruitful trees in the village of Burin, south of Nablus, and 15 others in the Urief village.
For their part, settlers launched a campaign on Facebook, calling for the killing of Palestinians, to slaughter and burn them, calling hospital maternity wards and threatening to cut off the heads of recently born babies. Another said, “We must revenge for every Jew injured or killed.”
Within this context, the occupation Attorney General decided to abandon the confessions of the perpetrators of the arson attack on the Dawabsha family, in the village of Douma, south of the city of Nablus, 2 years ago, under the pretext that the confessions were illegal because they were obtained in an unusual way. Moreover, the Israeli Kern Keimet Fund decided not to allow the establishment of a memorial for Mohammed Abu Khdeir, who died after he was burned alive, in a crime committed by 3 Israeli settlers in July of 2014, in a forest around Jerusalem.
On the other hand, the 3rd annual report of the Palestinian Center for Israeli Studies (MADAR), on the “Register of racist and supportive laws for the occupation and settlement,” finds that the situation has been escalated, and even accelerated, by the Israeli right to enact legislation aimed at consecrating Israeli control of as much of the West Bank as possible.
During the 3 years of the parliamentary mandate of the Knesset, 185 laws were enacted, including 54 that were passed or entered into legislation. This clearly implies the involvement of the Knesset in imposing racist legislation aimed at restricting Palestinian citizens and controlling their land and property. Pal Legislation on the Judaization of Jerusalem and legislation on settlement expansion, since the beginning of the Knesset’s 20 mandate, has dealt with 43 laws for the direct and indirect annexation of the occupied West Bank or settlements.
The most important laws that have finally been passed are the Land Grab and Land Privileges Law, the Law for the Consolidation of Jerusalem, the Israeli Higher Education Law on Settlements Institutes, the University in Ariel, and 2 other academic colleges.
The National Bureau said that the positions of US officials helped in radicalizing the behavior of Israelis in general, and settlers in particular, and pointed out that the new escalation in attacks and violations of the terrorist “paying the price gangs” would not have continued seriously in the last few days and weeks, otherwise.
According to the above information, the budget is not allocated to remedy the Dead Sea drought, but to strengthen and support the settlement outside of the Green Line, within the so-called “Regional Council Megillot”, north of the Dead Sea, which means expansion under the slogan of development of tourism and maintenance of road no. 90.
In turn, Head of the Tamar Regional Council and a member of Kibbutz Ein Gedi, Dov Latinov, said the decision will serve as a lifeline to save the Dead Sea and to further develop the settlements there, as the sea is an irreplaceable national treasure,” after the government decision.
According to the PNN, the Jordan Valley region is considered part of the Afro-Asian crater pit, one of the lowest in the world, located at a low of about 380 miles below sea level. The Palestinian Jordan Valley stretches along the eastern side of the West Bank, from Ein Gedi (the Dead Sea) southward, to the so-called “Tal Makhkhoz”, on the borders of Bisan, northward inside the Green Line, and from the Jordan River in the east to the eastern slopes of the West Bank of the Jordan Valley in the west. This area accounts for 28.5% of the West Bank 2,400 sq km. Settler profits through investment in the northern Jordan Valley amount to $ 650,000,000, annually.
At the same time, the attacks and violations of the “pay the price gangs”, against Palestinians and their properties, escalated under the protection of the occupation government and silent encouragement from the American administration, during the past week. These terrorist groups carried out several attacks, including those perpetrated against the the eastern village of Lubban, attacking citizens’ property and assaulting farmers from the village of Madma, during the plowing of their land, and forcing them to leave by way of tear gas bombs.
Moreover, they assaulted the villagers of Al-Tawana in Mafassar Yatta, threw rocks at them, attacked a school bus in Yatta, resulting in the injury of 13-year-old Ahmed Abu Aram, as well as assaults on students in the Salameh neighborhood, in the Old City of Hebron, puncturing the tires of 45 vehicles in the village of Burqa, east of Ramallah, and cutting down about 100 olive fruitful trees in the village of Burin, south of Nablus, and 15 others in the Urief village.
For their part, settlers launched a campaign on Facebook, calling for the killing of Palestinians, to slaughter and burn them, calling hospital maternity wards and threatening to cut off the heads of recently born babies. Another said, “We must revenge for every Jew injured or killed.”
Within this context, the occupation Attorney General decided to abandon the confessions of the perpetrators of the arson attack on the Dawabsha family, in the village of Douma, south of the city of Nablus, 2 years ago, under the pretext that the confessions were illegal because they were obtained in an unusual way. Moreover, the Israeli Kern Keimet Fund decided not to allow the establishment of a memorial for Mohammed Abu Khdeir, who died after he was burned alive, in a crime committed by 3 Israeli settlers in July of 2014, in a forest around Jerusalem.
On the other hand, the 3rd annual report of the Palestinian Center for Israeli Studies (MADAR), on the “Register of racist and supportive laws for the occupation and settlement,” finds that the situation has been escalated, and even accelerated, by the Israeli right to enact legislation aimed at consecrating Israeli control of as much of the West Bank as possible.
During the 3 years of the parliamentary mandate of the Knesset, 185 laws were enacted, including 54 that were passed or entered into legislation. This clearly implies the involvement of the Knesset in imposing racist legislation aimed at restricting Palestinian citizens and controlling their land and property. Pal Legislation on the Judaization of Jerusalem and legislation on settlement expansion, since the beginning of the Knesset’s 20 mandate, has dealt with 43 laws for the direct and indirect annexation of the occupied West Bank or settlements.
The most important laws that have finally been passed are the Land Grab and Land Privileges Law, the Law for the Consolidation of Jerusalem, the Israeli Higher Education Law on Settlements Institutes, the University in Ariel, and 2 other academic colleges.
The National Bureau said that the positions of US officials helped in radicalizing the behavior of Israelis in general, and settlers in particular, and pointed out that the new escalation in attacks and violations of the terrorist “paying the price gangs” would not have continued seriously in the last few days and weeks, otherwise.
19 apr 2018
The Israeli occupation authorities on Thursday seized hundreds of dunums of Palestinian land in Dura town, in the southern occupied West Bank province of al-Khalil.
Speaking with the Palestinian Information Center (PIC), Dura mayor, Ahmed Salhoub, said the occupation authorities held sway over 292 dunums of Palestinian land in Dura to expand an Israeli settlement illegally built in the area.
Salhoub also said the occupation authorities banned the municipality from building a thoroughfare in al-Tabaka village, to the west of Dura, on claims that it is adjacent to the Israeli settlement.
Speaking with the Palestinian Information Center (PIC), Dura mayor, Ahmed Salhoub, said the occupation authorities held sway over 292 dunums of Palestinian land in Dura to expand an Israeli settlement illegally built in the area.
Salhoub also said the occupation authorities banned the municipality from building a thoroughfare in al-Tabaka village, to the west of Dura, on claims that it is adjacent to the Israeli settlement.
15 apr 2018
Hebrew media sources on Sunday revealed that a group of Israeli settlers over the past few days have established a new settlement outpost near Nablus city.
Hebrew TV channel 20 reported that a number of Israeli youths about three weeks ago set up a new outpost near Itamar settlement southeast of Nablus.
The media sources claimed that the Israeli authorities tried to remove the outpost because it was not approved by the Israeli government.
Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank are illegal to the international community whether established with or without the approval of the Israeli government because they threaten the peace process and the two-state solution.
There are over 700,000 Israeli settlers in the West Bank, including Jerusalem, which is inhabited by more than 3 million Palestinians. Their presence has been a source of tension in the region since 1967.
Hebrew TV channel 20 reported that a number of Israeli youths about three weeks ago set up a new outpost near Itamar settlement southeast of Nablus.
The media sources claimed that the Israeli authorities tried to remove the outpost because it was not approved by the Israeli government.
Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank are illegal to the international community whether established with or without the approval of the Israeli government because they threaten the peace process and the two-state solution.
There are over 700,000 Israeli settlers in the West Bank, including Jerusalem, which is inhabited by more than 3 million Palestinians. Their presence has been a source of tension in the region since 1967.
14 apr 2018
The Israeli occupation's greed goes further with more Palestinian lands and sites stolen in Occupied Jerusalem. Judaization operations are in full swing in an attempt to alter the holy city's identity taking advantage of the US recognition of Jerusalem as Israel's capital.
The Israeli occupation authorities are planning to take control of Ain al-Haniya, which is located in al-Walaja village south of Occupied Jerusalem, and the surrounding lands to turn them into an Israeli national park.
Ain al-Haniya
Ain al-Haniya is one of the most important water springs in Jerusalem which flows from a rocky cave that is linked to a set of underground water channels which lead to many of the city's small waterfalls.
Member of al-Walaja village council Omar Hajajleh said that Ain al-Haniya is located in a Palestinian area occupied since 1967. "We used to visit it every now and then for recreation," he added, "But after the separation wall was built around al-Walaja, taking a long bypass road became the only way to reach Ain al-Haniya."
Hajajleh told the PIC reporter that the Israeli authorities intend to move al-Walaja military checkpoint to another location two kilometers away from the current one, which would deny the West Bank Palestinians access to the water spring. He noted that the authorities are also preparing for a national park project in the area.
History and Future
Ain al-Haniya is everything to the people of al-Walaja. It is their past, present and future. They always say, "You are never a Walaja resident until you drink from Ain al-Haniya."
Hajajleh explained that the new checkpoint will prevent the people of al-Walaja from reaching hundreds of dunums of their lands which are planted with olive and almond trees.
Ain al-Haniya is also special for the Christian community there. Some monks perform their prayers near the water spring on a regular basis.
History says that the late Palestinian archaeologist Dimitri Baramki discovered during excavations he conducted in 1930s the remains of a church, water canals, ponds and mosaic floors near Ain al-Haniya.
Israeli settlement practices
Peace Now movement said that the Israeli-controlled Jerusalem municipality is investing thousands of shekels to establish a checkpoint that prevents Palestinians from reaching Ain al-Haniya and turn it into a recreational place for Israelis only.
Peace Now pointed out that in 2010, the Israeli occupation authorities completed the construction of the separation wall around al-Walaja village and isolated it from Ain al-Haniya and about 250 dunums of its agricultural lands.
In 2013, Plan 12222 was approved, whereby the area surrounding Ain al-Haniya will be transformed into a national park. The Israeli government later invested millions of shekels in cooperation with the Jerusalem Development Authority to renovate the water spring.
Following the renovation operation, it was decided to relocate the military checkpoint, so that the Palestinians no longer could reach Ain al-Haniya.
On 12th February 2018, the so-called Security Committee of the Israeli war ministry approved the transfer of the checkpoint for "security purposes", but the real plan is to make Ain al-Haniya a purely Israeli site.
Israel's Minister of Jerusalem Affairs Ze'ev Elkin wrote this openly on his Facebook page, "Presently our goal is to move the police checkpoint into the park to make it accessible to all residents of Jerusalem (Israelis)."
Peace Now affirmed that the infrastructure work has been completed for the new checkpoint.
The Israeli occupation authorities are planning to take control of Ain al-Haniya, which is located in al-Walaja village south of Occupied Jerusalem, and the surrounding lands to turn them into an Israeli national park.
Ain al-Haniya
Ain al-Haniya is one of the most important water springs in Jerusalem which flows from a rocky cave that is linked to a set of underground water channels which lead to many of the city's small waterfalls.
Member of al-Walaja village council Omar Hajajleh said that Ain al-Haniya is located in a Palestinian area occupied since 1967. "We used to visit it every now and then for recreation," he added, "But after the separation wall was built around al-Walaja, taking a long bypass road became the only way to reach Ain al-Haniya."
Hajajleh told the PIC reporter that the Israeli authorities intend to move al-Walaja military checkpoint to another location two kilometers away from the current one, which would deny the West Bank Palestinians access to the water spring. He noted that the authorities are also preparing for a national park project in the area.
History and Future
Ain al-Haniya is everything to the people of al-Walaja. It is their past, present and future. They always say, "You are never a Walaja resident until you drink from Ain al-Haniya."
Hajajleh explained that the new checkpoint will prevent the people of al-Walaja from reaching hundreds of dunums of their lands which are planted with olive and almond trees.
Ain al-Haniya is also special for the Christian community there. Some monks perform their prayers near the water spring on a regular basis.
History says that the late Palestinian archaeologist Dimitri Baramki discovered during excavations he conducted in 1930s the remains of a church, water canals, ponds and mosaic floors near Ain al-Haniya.
Israeli settlement practices
Peace Now movement said that the Israeli-controlled Jerusalem municipality is investing thousands of shekels to establish a checkpoint that prevents Palestinians from reaching Ain al-Haniya and turn it into a recreational place for Israelis only.
Peace Now pointed out that in 2010, the Israeli occupation authorities completed the construction of the separation wall around al-Walaja village and isolated it from Ain al-Haniya and about 250 dunums of its agricultural lands.
In 2013, Plan 12222 was approved, whereby the area surrounding Ain al-Haniya will be transformed into a national park. The Israeli government later invested millions of shekels in cooperation with the Jerusalem Development Authority to renovate the water spring.
Following the renovation operation, it was decided to relocate the military checkpoint, so that the Palestinians no longer could reach Ain al-Haniya.
On 12th February 2018, the so-called Security Committee of the Israeli war ministry approved the transfer of the checkpoint for "security purposes", but the real plan is to make Ain al-Haniya a purely Israeli site.
Israel's Minister of Jerusalem Affairs Ze'ev Elkin wrote this openly on his Facebook page, "Presently our goal is to move the police checkpoint into the park to make it accessible to all residents of Jerusalem (Israelis)."
Peace Now affirmed that the infrastructure work has been completed for the new checkpoint.
7 apr 2018
Hebrew media sources have unveiled an Israeli plan to build 1,600 settlement units northeast of Jerusalem among several projects that will be launched following Jewish holidays next week.
According to plans published by Israel's Ministry of Construction and Housing, the project will be implemented in a sensitive area adjacent to Palestinian neighborhoods in the holy city.
Hebrew sources said that the project, in its first phase, involves the construction of 519 housing units in Neve Yaakov settlement. In the following stages, 1,167 housing units will be built in the area located between Neve Yaakov and Geva Binyamin (Adam) settlements close to the road connecting the northern and southern parts of the West Bank.
Settlement expert Khalil al-Tafakji told the PIC reporter that this Israeli scheme is aimed at undermining geographical contiguity in the occupied West Bank, enhancing settlement expansion projects, and making the two-state solution impossible and unattainable.
Al-Tafakji added that this plan is similar to Abu Ghneim neighborhood project which was launched in 1997 and stirred international condemnation back then. However, the project, which involved the construction of 17,000 settlement units, was later approved in blatant disregard for the international opposition.
The Palestinian expert pointed out that most of Adam settlement's lands are classified within Area C and that there is another plan to expand it to the south-east and north so that its area would be larger than the area of Jerusalem's old villages and neighborhoods.
According to plans published by Israel's Ministry of Construction and Housing, the project will be implemented in a sensitive area adjacent to Palestinian neighborhoods in the holy city.
Hebrew sources said that the project, in its first phase, involves the construction of 519 housing units in Neve Yaakov settlement. In the following stages, 1,167 housing units will be built in the area located between Neve Yaakov and Geva Binyamin (Adam) settlements close to the road connecting the northern and southern parts of the West Bank.
Settlement expert Khalil al-Tafakji told the PIC reporter that this Israeli scheme is aimed at undermining geographical contiguity in the occupied West Bank, enhancing settlement expansion projects, and making the two-state solution impossible and unattainable.
Al-Tafakji added that this plan is similar to Abu Ghneim neighborhood project which was launched in 1997 and stirred international condemnation back then. However, the project, which involved the construction of 17,000 settlement units, was later approved in blatant disregard for the international opposition.
The Palestinian expert pointed out that most of Adam settlement's lands are classified within Area C and that there is another plan to expand it to the south-east and north so that its area would be larger than the area of Jerusalem's old villages and neighborhoods.
6 apr 2018
Israel's Minister of Culture and Sport Miri Regev on Thursday unveiled a new plan to build 500 settlement units on Palestinian lands south of Nablus city.
This was voiced during a meeting between the Israeli minister and heads of settlements in the occupied West Bank on Thursday, according to the Hebrew TV channel Seven.
"Expanding settlements in Judea and Samaria (West Bank) is an integral part of the building of Israel," Regev said.
She added that the construction of 500 new housing units in Har Brakha settlement will be approved immediately after the end of Passover Holiday.
The UN Security Council on 23rd December 2016 adopted a draft resolution condemning Israel's "illegal" settlement construction in the occupied Palestinian territories and calling for its halt.
This was voiced during a meeting between the Israeli minister and heads of settlements in the occupied West Bank on Thursday, according to the Hebrew TV channel Seven.
"Expanding settlements in Judea and Samaria (West Bank) is an integral part of the building of Israel," Regev said.
She added that the construction of 500 new housing units in Har Brakha settlement will be approved immediately after the end of Passover Holiday.
The UN Security Council on 23rd December 2016 adopted a draft resolution condemning Israel's "illegal" settlement construction in the occupied Palestinian territories and calling for its halt.