AMMAN: Israel approved on Tuesday 1,122 new settlement units throughout the West Bank, and published tender announcements for 651 units, Israeli NGO Peace Now said.
Chief Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat said: “President (Donald) Trump’s decision to recognize Jerusalem as Israel’s capital did not only disqualify the US from playing any constructive role toward achieving peace, but it provided the extremist Israeli government with an opportunity and the green light to speed up its plans for the dispossession of the Palestinian people.”
Hanan Ashrawi, a member of the Palestine Liberation Organization’s (PLO) executive committee, told Arab News: “This is settler colonialism on the rampage. Israel is sealing the fate of the West Bank and Palestinian statehood unilaterally while the world seems to be helpless and hapless. Israeli arrogance of power and impunity is shameful indeed.”
Brian Reeves, external affairs director at Peace Now, told Arab News: “The Israeli government is attempting to destroy the possibility of a two-state solution and the prospects of peace by building more and more in the settlements.”
He added: “This agenda runs counter to Israel’s national interest, as well as the interests of everyone who seeks a peaceful future in the region.”
Israel is reportedly considering recognizing settlement units built contrary to Israeli law. International law considers all settlements illegal as they are built on occupied territory.
Defense Minister Avigdor Lieberman said he has “ordered an examination of the possibility of legalizing Havat Gilad and making it a community among the other settlements” in the West Bank.
Dozens of families live in Havat Gilad, which was established in 2002, but none of the homes have permits. Many of its buildings have been demolished by Israel only to be rebuilt.
Palestinian Prime Minister Rami Hamdallah on Thursday slammed Israel’s continued settlement activity.
He called on the international community, especially the EU, to take active steps to recognize Palestine as a state.
Israel approves 1,122 new settlement units
Israel approves 1,122 new settlement units
Turkiye evaluating potential measures in event of Iran-US conflict, source says
- Iran and the United States resumed negotiations earlier this month as Washington builds up military capability in the Middle East
ANKARA: Turkiye is evaluating all aspects of potential measures that may be taken in the event of a conflict between its neighbor Iran and the United States, a Turkish diplomatic source told Reuters on Wednesday.
Iran and the United States resumed negotiations earlier this month as Washington builds up military capability in the Middle East. Iran has threatened to strike US bases in the region if it is attacked, but Tehran’s top diplomat said on Tuesday that a deal with the US was “within reach” if diplomacy is prioritized.
NATO member Turkiye, which shares a border with Iran to its east, has said it opposes any military intervention on Iran and does not want destabilization in the region. Ankara has been in contact with both sides to de-escalate tensions and called for a resolution of issues through diplomacy.
“Naturally, all aspects of the measures that could be taken in the event of a negative development are being evaluated,” the source said, speaking on condition of anonymity.
“All scenarios are being considered; and steps that can be taken to ensure the safety of our citizens are being worked on,” the person said, but added any steps that would “violate Iran’s sovereignty” were “out of the question.”
The source did not provide details on what measures Turkiye was evaluating.
Earlier, the Turkish presidency’s office for countering disinformation denied media reports that Turkiye was planning to enter Iranian territory to stop a potential influx of refugees.
