LONDON, Wednesday, August 07, 2019 (WAFA) – Britain’s Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, Dominic Rennie Raab, urged Israel to halt its settlement expansion, which he stressed is contrary to international law and promotes the effective annexation of the West Bank, and allow Palestinian construction in the Israeli-controlled area A of the West Bank.

While the Israeli Cabinet approved construction permits for 715 Palestinian units in Area C, much more needs to be done to fulfill the needs of the estimated 300,000 Palestinians there, said Raab in a press statement.

“The UK continues to urge the Government of Israel to develop improved mechanisms that allow Palestinians to build within Area C,” he said.

The UK also remains seriously concerned by the continued demolition of Palestinian property by Israeli authorities, including the July 22 demolition of 10 Palestinian buildings in Wadi al Hummus area in Sur Baher, a neighborhood of occupied East Jerusalem, the statement concluded.

The Israeli Higher Planning Committee of the so-called Civil Administration, an army of the Israeli military government in charge of the occupied West Bank, announced in the last two days plans to advance 2,304 settlement housing units in Israeli settlements in the West Bank, a decision that has provoked Palestinian and international criticism.

T.R./M.K.