PALESTINE REGRETS 3000 UNIT BUILDING OF ISRAELI’S PLAN

2012-12-02 | 01:01:41

        Washington DC, 17 Muharram 1434/1 December 2012 (Ma’an/MINA) – Israel’s plans to build 3,000 new settlement units in the occupied West Bank reflects America’s “lack of reaction” to unilateral moves, PLO’s envoy Maen Areikat in Washington DC said Friday.
        Maen Areikat was responding to the announcement by Israeli government officials of plans to build 3,000 settlement units in the so-called E-1 area of the occupied West Bank, a day after Palestine was admitted to the UN in a vote opposed by the US and Israel.
        The announcement “represents a challenge for those who are attacking Palestine’s recent effort at the United Nations,” Areikat said in a statement.

Also Read: ISRAEL LEADERS SAY JERUSALEM TO REMAIN 'STATE'S CAPITAL'

       “It is exactly the lack of reaction on behalf of the US, and others in the international community, to continued Israel violations of previous agreements that pushed us to seek intervention at the UN,” he added.
        “It is imperative that the world, especially the US, take a principled and balanced approach to compel Israel to abide by international law and its obligations.”
        In Washington, the White House said the new Israeli settlement expansion plan was “counterproductive” and could make it harder to bring Israel and the Palestinians back to the negotiating table.
        “We reiterate our longstanding opposition to settlements and East Jerusalem construction and announcements,” White House spokesman Tommy Vietor said.
        “We believe these actions are counterproductive and make it harder resume direct negotiations or achieve of a two state solution,” Vietor said. “Direct negotiations remain our goal and we encourage all parties to take steps to make that easier to achieve.”
        Earlier an Israeli official announced plans to build thousands of new homes for its settlers in the occupied West Bank and East Jerusalem, defying a UN vote that implicitly recognized Palestinian statehood there.
        The official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s conservative government had authorized the construction of 3,000 housing units.(T/R-007/R-002/R-006)