Illegal Israeli Settlement Construction Continues in Kiryat Netafim

Wednesday December 30, 2009 17:42 by Ghassan Bannoura & Nathan Stokes - IMEMC News

The Israeli occupation government informed the High Court of Justice that it will continue construction in an illegal Israeli settlement on Palestinian lands in the West Bank, despite promises of a settlement freeze for a period of 10 months.

The court announcement came in response to a petition filed by the Israeli Peace Now movement to halt the illegal construction of 15 houses in Kiryat Netafim settlement, northern West Bank.

Peace Now says the constructions lack proper building permits according to Israeli law. According to international law all Israeli settlements in the West Bank are illegal.

The Israeli state has responded with claims that the zoning plans were filed in 2000, but that the final plans had yet to be approved.

Back in November the Israeli government announced a 10 month long freeze of construction in West Bank settlement to push forth the stalled peace talks with the Palestinians Authority.

The freeze was in response to demands by the Palestinians and the U.S administration that peace talks will resume if settlements construction stops.

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