RAMALLAH, February 1, 2017 (WAFA) – The Palestinian government Wednesday held Israel responsible for any escalation in the area, warning that its policies, particularly the recent settlement activities, may lead toward violence and tension.

Yousef al-Mahmoud, the government’s spokesman, said in a statement that the Palestinian government holds Israel accountable for its acts and holds the international community authorities responsible its silence and lack of actions to stop Israel’s defiance of international law.

Al-Mahmoud said the settlement activities are bound to intensify tension in the entire region.

He said “the government was disappointment by the minor responses of some of the influential countries, which only condemned and denounced the measures without taking necessary actions to pressure Israel to stop the settlements, to force it to comply with international law and to engage in making peace instead of clinging to the occupation.”

K.T./M.K.