International Arab and Islamic organizations and European Parliament lawmakers on Tuesday strongly denounced the Israeli Knesset for passing the so-called regulation bill that legalized land grabs and settlement expansion in the West Bank.
In a statement the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) deplored the government-controlled Knesset for legalizing the theft of Palestinian land and described its step as a violation of related international resolutions especially resolution 2334 that was issued recently by UN Security Council and condemned Israel’s illegal settlement activities in the occupied Palestinian territories.
OIC secretary-general Yousef al-Othaimeen called Israel’s acceleration of its settlement expansion with the beginning of 2017 “a serious sign reflecting the Israeli government’s persistence in pursuing policies aimed at undermining the international efforts to achieve the two-state solution.”
For his part secretary-general of the Arab League Ahmed Abul-Gheit said that the new Israeli legislation on settlement activities reflected the Israeli government’s real intentions and its rejection of peace and the international law.
Abul-Gheit stressed that the new Israeli law is a cover for Israel’s intents to steal and appropriate more Palestinian lands and properties.
“This law is a link in the chain of Israel’s ongoing policies that aim to torpedo any prospect for the achievement of the two-state solution and the establishment of an independent Palestinian state” the Arab League chairman said.
Head of the Arab Parliament Mishaal al-Salami also condemned the pro-settlement expansion bill as a “war crime and a direct violation of the international law and conventions.”
“The Arab Parliament will continue to pursue all diplomatic and legal channels at international events to confront the Zionist violations and defend the right of the Arab Palestinian people to restore their usurped rights and to establish their Palestinian state with Jerusalem as its capital” al-Salami said.
In addition several lawmakers at the European Parliament voiced their strong rejection of this Israeli legislation.
The Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats’ (S&D) group at the European Parliament said its members submitted a proposal to discuss the new Israeli law in next week’s plenary session in Strasbourg.
“The S&D Group opposes and condemns the decision of the Israeli Knesset backed by prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s right-wing coalition to retroactively legalize about 4000 settler homes built on privately owned Palestinian land in the occupied West Bank.”
“We are facing here an unjust unjustified and illegal measure against Palestinian people’s rights that will further undermine the foundations of the two-state solution and the chances for peace and stability. This is just the last in a long line of blows from the Israeli authorities to rip off piece-by-piece Palestinian land illegally occupied by Israeli forces” the group added.
Israel on Monday passed a controversial bill that retroactively legalizes thousands of settlers’ homes built on privately owned Palestinian land in the occupied West Bank drawing widespread anger by Palestinian leaders and international rights groups as well.
