UN Official Slams ’’Israeli’’ Authorization of New Settlements

A senior United Nations official has criticized a recent "Israeli" approval for the construction of even more illegal settlement units in occupied Palestinian territories in the West Bank.

In a Wednesday statement, Robert Serry, a UN coordinator for "Israeli"-Palestinian talks, described the decision by the "Israeli" regime to authorize the building of 500 new illegal units in the West Bank settlement of Shilo as "deplorable".

Serry added that UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon had previously "reiterated" that the "Israeli" settlement activity is illegal and "will not be recognized by the international community."

"Israeli" officials announced on Wednesday that more than 200 settler homes built "without a permit" by the Tel Aviv regime in the West Bank would also be "legalized."

"Today's announcement by "Israel" to approve a large number of new units deep inside the occupied Palestinian territory in the settlement of Shilo and retroactively legitimize hundreds in a nearby outpost is deplorable," Serry said.Almost 500,000 "Israelis" live in more than 100 settlement units built since the 1967 "Israeli" occupation of the West Bank and East al-Quds (Jerusalem).

Palestinian spokesman Ghassan Khatib said Wednesday's approval "shows how "Israel" has no respect for the international community or international laws, while at the same time sheds a light on the ... lack of effective actions by international community toward "Israeli" settlement policy."
The UN has for multiple times condemned "Israel's" announcement to build more settlements in the Occupied Palestine, but has never taken serious action towards such illegitimated construction.

Source: News Agencies, edited by moqawama.org