From the Liveblog of
Monday, July 25, 2016
UN, Palestinians condemn East Jerusalem building plans
Add ToI as a Preferred Source on GoogleThe United Nations has joined the Palestinian Authority in condemning Israeli plans to build 770 new units in the East Jerusalem neighborhood of Gilo, presented to a district planning committee last week.
“I strongly condemn the recent decision by Israeli authorities to advance plans to build some 770 housing units in the settlement of Gilo, built on the lands of occupied Palestinian towns and villages between Bethlehem and East Jerusalem,” UN Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process Nickolay Mladenov says in a statement.
“Continuing on the current trajectory entrenches a one-state reality of perpetual occupation and conflict that is incompatible with realizing the national aspirations of both peoples.”
Mladenov also decries reported plans for a new illegal outpost near Hebron.
“Such moves raise legitimate questions about Israel’s long-term intentions. They come against the backdrop of statements by some Israeli ministers that there should never be a Palestinian state or calls for the full annexation of the West Bank,” he says.
Israel effectively annexed East Jerusalem and maintains the right to build in all parts of the capital.
Top Palestinian official Saeb Erekat has also condemned the Gilo housing plans and calls on the international community to take action.
“This is yet another opportunity for the international community to show its real commitment to the two-state solution and take all needed action in order to have Israel fully cease settlement construction in the Occupied State of Palestine,” Erekat says, according to official PA mouthpiece WAFA. “We have asked the State of Egypt and the leaders of Arab countries during our recent visit to call for an urgent meeting of the Arab Quartet in order to submit a draft resolution to the United Nations Security Council to halt settlement expansion.”
The Times of Israel Community.