RAMALLAH, November 16, 2011 (WAFA) - PLO Executive Committee member and lawmaker Hanan Ashrawi strongly condemned announcement by the Israeli government inviting interested parties to bid on the construction of more than 5,000 settlement units in the occupied Palestinian territories, beginning with the building of 814 units in occupied East Jerusalem, according to a press release published Wednesday.

“Plans to continue construction of illegal settlements in and around Jerusalem send a clear message to both the Quartet and the international community that Israel is not committed to implementing the two-state solution and that it is not a genuine partner for peace,” said Ashrawi. “The escalation of illegal settlement activity poses the single-greatest threat to peace.”

She said that “these grave violations of international law reinforce Israel’s intent to fraudulently change the character of occupied East Jerusalem, both demographically and politically. It is evident that the Israeli government is working to consolidate its hold on Jerusalem in order to pre-empt negotiations.”

Ashrawi concluded, “We call on the Quartet and the international community not just to condemn Israeli measures to promote the annexation and ethnic cleansing of the occupied Palestinian territories, but to hold Israel accountable for its violations of international and humanitarian law. All settlement activity must cease immediately.”

M.S.