Israel Defies UN Resolution, Approves 8,000 Settlements on Occupied West Bank

Rasa - Israel defied UN resolution and approved the construction of 8,000 new homes in occupied West Bank territories.

News ID: 430316

Date: 13 June 2017 - 22:37

RNA - Israeli minister Avigdor Lieberman, said that over a third of the houses will be constructed immediately thus marking the largest expansion of Israeli settlements in the area in 25 years, Al Waght reported.

Lieberman said 3,651 settlements were approved last week adding that “What we’ve approved on June 6 and 7 is the maximum that can be approved.”

The Israeli minister also praised Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s for his aggressive stance on expanding settlements in the West Bank.

Nearly 400,000 settlers have reportedly usurped Palestinian land in the West Bank an area with a population of about 2.8 million Palestinians. Another 200,000 live in occupied East Jerusalem.

The construction of settlements in the region is considered illegal under international law. The international community has long voiced concerns over the controversial constructions while condemning the deteriorating security situation between Israelis and Palestinians.

The illegal structures have hampered attempts to establish peace in the West Asia. In December 2016, the United Nations Security Council adopted Resolution 2334 that denounced the Israeli settlements as a "flagrant violation of international law."

The resolution called on Israeli regime to immediately and completely cease all settlement activities in the occupied Palestinian territory, including East Jerusalem.

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