France Condemns Huge Israeli Expansion of Illegal Settlements
Houses are seen in the West Bank Jewish settlement of Ofra, north of Ramallah.
Paris, 27 Rabiul Akhir 1438/26 January 2017 (MINA) – France on Wednesday condemned an Israeli decision to build 2,500 new housing units in the occupied West Bank and warned Israel it was violating international law and sending a worrying signal through its settlement policies.
The Israeli plan to massively expand its settler presence in the West Bank follows an announcement by the Israelis on Sunday last that they were building 566 new housing units in three illegal settlements in East Jerusalem, a decision that is particularly provocative to Palestinians and other Arabs.
French Foreign Ministry spokesman Romain Nadal was quoted by KUNA as noting that the proximity of the two settlement decisions in the West Bank and East Jerusalem, which is destined to be the capital of a new Palestinian State.
The plans announced over the past few days for these constructions “represent almost as many housing units (to be built) in the settlements as were announced in all of 2016,” Nadal remarked in a briefing.
“We condemn these new developments, which are contrary to international law and are a very worrying signal,” the official added.
He pointed out that UN Security Council resolution 2334, voted on 23 December 2016, “recalled the illegality of settlements under international law and demanded they be halted immediately and completely.”
Japan urges cancellation
From Tokyo KUNA reported that Japan on Wednesday deeply deplored Israel’s recent approval for the construction of new houses in the West Bank and East Jerusalem, urging the Israeli government to cancel the plan.
“Settlement activities are violation of international law, and Japan has repeatedly called upon Israel to fully freeze settlement activities,” Foreign Ministry Press Secretary Norio Maruyama said in a statement.
According to media report, earlier this week, the Israeli government approved a plan to build 2,500 new housing units in the West Bank, as well as the construction of 566 homes in occupied East Jerusalem.
“Japan once again strongly urges the Israeli government to desist from implementing its construction plans that are undermining the viability of a two-state solution,” Maruyama said. (T/RS05/RS01)
Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA)
