In yet another move of oppression against the Palestinians, newly appointed Israeli minister of military affairs Naftali Bennett, has approved plans for the building a new settlement in the heart of the flashpoint west bank city of al-Khalil also known as Hebron. RNA - The decision has drawn sharp criticism from Palestinians. Al-Khalil Mayor Taysir Abu Sneineh warned that the "dangerous" decision would lead to escalations in the entire region.
The new settlement will be built in the market area in what’s known as Shuhada Street that is always bustling and considered al-Khalil’s old town’s main commercial artery.
It has been shut down by the Israeli army since 1994 forcing many businesses to close after an Israeli settler killed 29 Palestinian worshipers in al-Ibrahimi mosque. Since then, Palestinians have already been banned from accessing the street.
According to Press TV, the Palestinian authority has meanwhile slammed Bennet’s plan, calling it a result of US decision to consider Israeli settlements legal defying the intentional law.
Israeli settlement in occupied territories is illegal anyhow and the new settlement in al-Khalil will add more insult to Palestinians’ injury and deteriorate further their conditions.
They are already deprived of their basic rights like freedom of movement because of only 800 Israeli settlers who are illegally living in the old town.
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