Palestinians ask world to punish Israel for settlement law

Palestinian Authority Tourism and Antiquities Minister Rula Maayaa calls on the international community to punish Israel for a contentious new law, just hours after the Knesset adopted the bill to retroactively legalize thousands of West Bank settlement homes built unlawfully on private Palestinian land.

“Nobody can legalize the theft of the Palestinian lands. Building settlements is a crime, building settlements is against all international laws,” Maayaa says. “I think it is time now for the international community to act concretely to stop the Israelis from these crimes.”

According to the law, Palestinian landowners would be compensated either with money or other land, even if they did not agree to give up their property. Critics say the legislation enshrines into law the theft of Palestinian land, and it is expected to be challenged in Israel’s Supreme Court.

— AP