Palestine, November 19, 2009, (Pal Telegraph) - Member of central Fatah Central committee and General Commissioner of foreign relationship of Fatah, Dr. Nabil Shaath, expressed his deep condemnation over the illegal Israeli measures in Occupied East Jerusalem.
On Tuesday, Israel, the occupying Power, passed a decision to build 900 new housing units in the illegal settlement of Gilo, south of Occupied East Jerusalem.
The approval of these new colonial facts on Occupied Palestinian land is in line with the consistently illegal and reprehensible Israeli policy of land grab and colonialism, which has been most aggressive in Occupied East Jerusalem.
"The Palestinian leadership has already warned that the settlement expansion plans devised by the current government of Israel will ensure an increase in settler population over the next two years that exceeds that in the previous two. And while Israel, the Occupying Power, may attempt to market this aggressive policy as so-called restraint, these misleading attempts must be rejected by the international community as fallacies. Israel showed no interest in peace process and settlements prove this" Said Shaath
Expanding the illegal settlement of Gilo is stark evidence of Israel's determination to destroy the prospects of the two-state solution, which the current radical Israeli government continues to reject. This approval also represents a clear message of disdain towards the will of the international community.
The international community, whose will is evident in several UN resolutions, agrees that East Jerusalem is an integral part of the Occupied Palestinian Territory and considers all its colonial and annexation measures in the city illegal.
The settlement expansion in Occupied East Jerusalem is accelerating at an unprecedented rate and it continues in conjunction with an aggressive Israeli campaign to evict and displace the original Palestinian citizens from the city. This clearly aims at changing the demographic composition, status and nature of East Jerusalem, in an attempt create a new and irreversible reality on the ground, in effect pre-empting any final solution to the conflict.
The danger facing the prospects of peace is embodied in statements that the Israeli government continues to affirm. Following this illegal approval of settlement expansion in Occupied East Jerusalem, the Israeli Prime Minister issued a statement affirming his government's position towards the city, which stands in clear violation of International Law. The statement reads: "Jerusalem is Israel's capital and will remain as such." Clearly, this is an objectionable position that directly contradicts international humanitarian law and relevant resolutions. It is also a position that must be confronted determinedly by the international community.
The Palestinian people appreciate the principled positions made clear by the leaders of the international community, including the Secretary General of the United Nations regarding this latest illegal and unilateral Israeli measure. However, it must be clear that statements of goodwill and noble sentiments have proven insufficient to protect the Occupied Palestinian Territory and the rights of the occupied Palestinian People.
Israel continues to adopt measures on the ground that de facto annex occupied Palestinian land and render Palestinian self-determination unviable. It has done so and will continue to do so long as the international community suffices with statements that have thus far had no bearing on the ground. Time is of the essence, as are clear actions.
According to Abid Al Hadi ijla, Foreign affairs commissioner in Europe said in an interview with the Palestine Telegraph that Israel must understand that violating International Law will have a price and that the international community's patience is running out.
"These illegal and dangerous measures not only threaten Palestinian national aspirations; they also threaten the stability and security of the entire region and require immediate actions from the international community." Said Mr. el Ijla
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Thursday, 19 November 2009
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