Israeli occupation government stepping up settlements, especially in Jerusalem

Palestine UN mission: Occupation stepping up settlements, especially in Jerusalem

Friday May 01, 2009 07:28 by Saed Bannoura - IMEMC News

The acting head of the Permanent Observer Mission of Palestine to the United Nations, Fida’ Abdul-Hadi Nasser, sent letters to the UN Secretary-General, to the head of the Security Council and to the head of the UN General Assembly informing them that the illegal Israeli measures and the ongoing illegal settlement construction and expansion, especially in Jerusalem, are increasing the suffering of the Palestinians.

In her letter, Abdul-Hadi said that Israel is stepping up its illegal settlement activities, and is demolishing Palestinian homes in Jerusalem, an issue which comes in direct violation to the international law.

Nasser added that after the Annapolis Summit of 2007, the Israeli occupation government stepped up its illegal settlement activities in direct violation to the International Law, the Fourth Geneva Conventions, UN resolutions and the Road Map Peace Plan.

She stated that the new Israeli government approved on April 26 the construction of 6000 homes for Jewish settlers on 12.000 Dunams of Palestinian lands. Israel issued the construction orders in order to expand the Maaleh Adumim settlement bloc, the second biggest settlement bloc in the occupied West Bank.

Nasser further said that the Palestinian Authority repeatedly warned that settlements, the Annexation Wall and other illegal Israeli activities, especially in Jerusalem, are meant to block the geographical contiguity on the Palestinian territories, and pose serious threats on the two-state solution.

She added that the settlers are carrying repeated attacks against the Palestinians and are encouraged to carry further attacks due to the positions of the Israeli government and the previous governments.

“The Israeli settlements, the illegal Israeli policies, and the siege on the Gaza Strip are direct violations to the International Law and the basic principles of Human Rights”, Nasser stated, “These acts prove once again that the occupation is ongoing with its disregard to human rights and to the peace process”.

At the end of her statement, Nasser said that the Palestinian people are expecting the International Community and the Security Council to fulfill their responsibilities, stop the Israeli violations, and end the Israeli occupation.

She further said that Israel should be held responsible for war crimes against the Palestinian people.

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