NEW YORK, January 3, 2007 (WAFA) - Dr. Riyad Mansour, Ambassador, Permanent Observer of Palestine to the United Nations, said Israel's announcement of its plans to construct a new illegal colony in the Occupied Palestinian Territory is particularly alarming because it is indicative of Israel's continued disdain for international law.

In a letter to Mr. Vitaly I. Churkin, President of the UN Security Council, Mr. Mansour said "on 26 December 2006, the Government of Israel announced its plans to construct a new illegal settlement in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, namely in the Jordan Valley of the West Bank."

"The announcement of this unlawful plan is particularly alarming because it is indicative of the occupying Power's continued disdain for international law and the will of the international community," he added. "Moreover, Israel's continued colonization of Palestinian land and settler colonialism is also further destroying the vision of two-States living side by side in peace and security, based on the 1967 borders."

According to the letter, the recent approval of the new illegal colony by the occupying Power intends to house thirty families that originally inhabited the illegal colony of Gush Katif in the Gaza Strip prior to Israel's unilateral exit from the Gaza Strip in 2005.

"This is clearly part of the occupying Power's revolving door policy vis-à-vis the illegal settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territory," reads the letter. "In other words, the removal of illegal settlers, such as in the Gaza Strip, has transpired in their re-location to other illegal settlements in the West Bank."

Mansour's letter stressed that this is the same as when an illegal outpost is vacated in one place and the authorization of the expansion of another illegal colony occurs elsewhere.

In his last meeting with President Mahmoud Abbas, said Dr. Mansour, Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert announced his commitment not to undertake any unilateral action that would predetermine the final status negotiations.

"During the same meeting, he announced a series of promises, including the release of Palestinian detainees before the Holy Eid festivities as well as the lifting of some of the over 500 Israeli checkpoints suffocating the West Bank and isolating its villages, cities, and refugee camps from one another," he added.

Dr. Mansour revealed that these promises are yet to be fulfilled and some, like the release of Palestinian detainees, has been reversed.

"More alarming, the announcement of the construction plan of yet another illegal settlement in the West Bank deals a severe blow to any hope for resumed talks and puts into question the true intentions of Israel, the occupying Power, as well as its degree of commitment towards peace."

Mansour said that it is important to recall that such Israeli settlement policies and practices are being carried out in flagrant and grave violation of international law, particularly the Fourth Geneva Convention.

"This fact was confirmed by the International Court of Justice in its Advisory Opinion of 9 July 2004, which determined, inter alia, that the Israeli settlements have been established in breach of international law," he stressed.

Furthermore, he said, this announcement is in complete defiance of the Road Map for peace, which was endorsed by the Security Council resolution 1515 (2003) as well as other Security Council resolutions in particular resolution 465 (1980).

He called on the international community urge Israel, the occupying Power, to abide by all of its legal obligations under international law, including international humanitarian law and human rights law, and to act decisively in case of continued non-compliance.

A.D (12:42 P) (10:42 GMT)