RAMALLAH, Thursday, February 29, 2024 (WAFA) - Nabil Abu Rudeineh, spokesman for President Mahmoud Abbas, has condemned the Israeli occupation's decision to seize thousands of dunams of land in occupied East Jerusalem.
He affirmed that all settlements are illegal, and that there can be no peace with the continued existence of settlements in the Palestinian territory.
Abu Rudeineh stated that "the Israeli government persists in its policy to prevent the establishment of an independent Palestinian state, especially with the ongoing land seizures and settlement expansion, aimed at preventing the creation of a Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital."
"All Palestinian lands occupied in 1967 belong to the Palestinian people, whether privately or publicly owned. The Israeli occupation authorities deliberately defy international legitimacy and its resolutions, which have consistently declared the illegitimacy of settlements in all Palestinian territory, including East Jerusalem," he added.
The presidentil spokesman continued by saying that the Israeli government's announcement of seizing large areas of the West Bank east of Jerusalem is a continuation of its plan to isolate the city from its Palestinian surroundings.
He considered the move to be part of the full-flegded war Israel has been waging against the Palestinian people and their Islamic and Christian sanctities.
Abu Rudeineh emphasized that "there can be no peace or security with the continuation of settlements and the aggression against our people and their land."
"There will be no peace or security without a complete withdrawal from the Palestinian territories occupied in 1967, including East Jerusalem and Gaza," he affirmed.
Abu Rudeineh blamed the U.S. administration for these Israeli policies, demanding the U.S. to turn its statements into actions, preventing the Israeli government from continuing its crimes, whether in Gaza or the West Bank.
He stressed that the situation cannot tolerate further escalation amidst the ongoing bloody massacres being perpetrated against the Palestinian people.
M.N
