Photo: Depositphotos
Ramallah, 12 February – The Palestinian authorities have called on the UN Security Council to put pressure on the Israeli government to stop illegal settlement activity in the occupied West Bank. This was reported by the Anadolu Agency news portal, citing a statement by the Palestinian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
A call to the international community
The Palestinian Ministry of Foreign Affairs stressed that the Security Council must overcome its helplessness and take immediate action to stop Israeli attacks and settlement construction in the occupied territories.
In accordance with the advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice, the Palestinian side calls on the international community to ensure the implementation of decisions requiring an end to the Israeli occupation of the Palestinian territories.
The Palestinian authorities also condemned Israel’s unilateral actions and held the international community responsible for failing to stop the growing pressure on the Palestinians, which poses long-term threats to the entire region.
Israeli settlement expansion
According to the Palestinian Foreign Ministry, Israel has seized about 720 dunams of land in the city of Beit Lahmtaand established unofficial outpost settlements.
In addition, the Israeli authorities are isolating East Jerusalem from the Palestinian territories and dividing the West Bank by setting up more than 800 checkpoints.
New settlement in Beit Lahm
The head of the Committee Against the Wall and Settlements, Muayyed Shaban, said that Israel has begun construction of a new illegal settlement, Nahal Gelitz, in the Bittir area of the West Bank.
According to Shaban, this is part of Tel Aviv’s phased plan to implement the Greater Jerusalem project, which aims to eventually separate Jerusalem from Beit Lahm.
Number of Israeli settlers
According to the Israeli authorities, more than 720,000 Israeli settlers currently live in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem.
