PA slams plan for settlement construction
Palestinians say state's plan to build 6,900 housing units across country, including 336 in West Bank settlements, is another reason to appeal to UN. Meanwhile Ynet learns Barak tried to prevent forced eviction in Migron outpost
The Palestinian Authority slammed Israel's newest plan to build housing units beyond the Green Line, saying that the measure is yet another reason to appeal to the United Nations for recognition of a Palestinian state.
Meanwhile Ynet learned Monday that Defense Minister Ehud Barak attempted to reach an agreement with Binyamin Regional Council that would prevent the razing of three permanent structures in the West Bank outpost of Migron.
Barak met with Council head Avi Roeh two weeks ago, and asked him if he had any other solutions that would prevent a forced eviction of the structures, in accordance with a High Court injunction, but the meeting ended without an agreement.
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PA spokesman Nabil Abu Rudeina said of the construction plans, "The actions and decision of (Prime Minister Benjamin) Netanyahu's government are disgraceful and invalid. The Israeli government's entire policy of settling on Palestinian lands is unacceptable because it is illegal."
Aiming to alleviate the national housing shortage, the Construction and Housing Ministry issued on Monday a tender for the construction of 6,900 housing units across the country – including 336 units in the West Bank settlements Beitar Illit and Karnei Shomron.
"This decision is another reason for us to turn to the Security Council to ask for recognition of a Palestinian state, and to achieve full membership in the UN," Abu Rudeina told the Palestinian news agency WAFA in a statement.
Abu Rudeina called on the international community to "take responsibility and to announce clear stances on Israel's settlement policy, which not only harms the Israeli-Arab peace process, but also peace in the entire world."
Syria recognizes state within 1967 lines
Fatah also spoke out against the measure, saying that Netanyahu's government "insists on building settlements and destroying peace in the region, thus rejecting the calm and stability."
"The Israeli decision to continue building in the occupied territories backs the Palestinian leadership's intention to turn to the UN," the movement said in a statement.
According to Fatah, "Israel alone will bear the responsibility for blocking the peace process with its total violation of international law and its insistence to continue with… settlement, land confiscation and the Judaization of the holy city (Jerusalem)."
Meanwhile a senior official from the Syrian foreign ministry announced Monday that his country "recognizes a Palestinian state along the 1967 lines with eastern Jerusalem as its capital, based on legitimate Palestinian rights."
The official told a local news agency that "Syria intends to treat the PLO offices in Damascus as an official embassy from now on." According to the report, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas praised the Syrian announcement.
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