RAMALLAH, August 23, 2018 (WAFA) - PLO Executive Committee Member Hanan Ashrawi strongly condemned the expansion of Israel‘s illegal settlement enterprise on stolen Palestinian land,  stating that "with the expansion of its illegal settlement enterprise, Israel seeks not only to defy but to defeat the whole world"

In response to media inquiries concerning the approval by Israel‘s Higher Planning Committee of the Civil Administration to construct 2,000 illegal settlement units in the occupied West Bank, as well as the authorization of the Jerusalem ‘Municipality‘ and the Israel Land Administration to build 20,000 settlement units in occupied Jerusalem.

"In a blatant disregard for and violation of international law and conventions, as well as United Nations Security Council resolutions and the basic requirements of stability and peace, Israel persists in its illegal policies and oppressive measures in favor of its extremist settler population and colonial project.” 

Israel‘s deliberate expansion throughout the occupied West Bank and its illegal annexation of Jerusalem are clear evidence of the implementation of its fundamentalist Zionist plan of stealing all of Palestine, said a statement issued by the PLO official.

This has been further encouraged by the United States‘ blind commitment to the Israeli government and its collusion with the unfettered and cruel military occupation that have conflicted grave suffering and deprivation on the Palestinian people, added the statement.

“It is high time for the international community to send Israel a strong message that this is not the Wild West or the days of empire and extermination of indigenous peoples. We seek urgent intervention and appeal to governments worldwide and the entire global community to put an end to Israel‘s impunity and to curb its voracious appetite for Palestine land and resources.”

“This can be made possible only with respect for the law and concrete punitive measures to close this dangerous and painful chapter of settler colonialism once and for all," the statement concluded.

T.R.