Nikolai Miladinov the United Nations Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process said that the construction of settlements is illegal under international law and is one of the main obstacles to peace. He called for an immediate cessation of all settlement-related activities.
Miladinov criticized in a statement on Thursday the recent approval of the Israeli authorities to build nearly 5000 settlement units most of them are in the center of the Occupied West Bank.
He said “These actions undermine movements towards achieving a two-state solution and the possibility of establishing an independent Palestinian state living side by side with Israel in peace and security.”
“This large number of buildings and their location is a source of great concern for all those who are still committed to promoting Israeli-Palestinian peace” Miladinov added.
The so-called Israeli Supreme Council for Planning in the Civil Administration Army has approved the construction of more than 4000 new settlement units in Israeli settlements that are built on Palestinian lands in the West Bank.
The Israeli occupation authorities approved on Thursday evening the construction of 3212 new settlement units in various settlements in the West Bank and Jerusalem.
This follows the plan announced on Wednesday on building 2166 other units. The total number for approved settlements is 5400 settlement units.
This is the largest record in recent years of construction and this plan was supposed to be approved earlier according to the Hebrew newspaper Israel Hayom.
These constructions include building 500 settlement units in Tzur Hadassah settlement at the expense of the Palestinian inhabitants’ lands of the Wadi Fukin village.
More than 1000 units will be built in Beitar Illit settlement near Occupied Jerusalem and 625 units will be built in Eli settlement.
The occupation authorities will also approve the construction of 560 units in Gilo settlement in Jerusalem 286 in Har Barkha settlement 181 in Einaf settlement and 120 in Kedem settlement.
The Yesha Settlements Council said that efforts were made by settler leaders to push for the resumption of construction again. It stressed the need not to use settlements’ construction as a bargaining chip in any peace agreements.
Israel is taking advantage of the current situation due to the coronavirus pandemic by seizing vast areas of Palestinian land.
The occupation began implementing a policy of building and expanding settlements since 1967 and more than 600000 Jewish settlers live on stolen lands in settlements in the West Bank and East Jerusalem.
